Rough sleeping in England

Time

2010 - On-going (Annual)

These statistics were published under new guidance from 2010. Figures that were collected and published previous to this new guidance are available in the Rough Sleeping England - Total Street Count and Estimates 2010 and the Rough Sleeping England - Total street count 2009 tables. These tables include previous data back to 1998.

Dataset Quality

Some figures within the dataset are estimated rather than based on counts. Counts are single night snapshots of the number of people sleeping rough. Although accurately counting or estimating the number of rough sleepers within the area of a local authority is inherently difficult, the series is now regarded as well-established, with a consistent run of figures over five years, and with their robustness enhanced by Homeless Link being involved in verifying local counts and validating local estimates

Rough sleeping counts and estimates are single night snapshots of the number of people sleeping rough in local authority areas. Local authorities decide whether to carry out a count or an estimate based upon their assessment of whether the local rough sleeping problem justifies counting. They are encouraged to gain intelligence for street counts and estimates from local agencies such as outreach workers, the police, the voluntary sector and members of the public who have contact with rough sleepers on the street.

Dataset Access and Use

A freely accessible data table is provided as part of the release

Government attitudes to research use of their data appear favourable

Geography