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Rough estimates on homeless numbers
• CLLR Gwyneth Hampson’s letter (Sweeping statement untrue, June 29) in response to your article (Homeless swept away like trash, June 22 ) raises a number of serious points which I believe are valid.
Rough sleeper head counts have been contentious since the government introduced the Rough Sleepers Unit (RSU) in 1997.
The unit was set up to replace the Rough Sleepers Initiative, which was established by the previous Conservative administration.
Both administrations have attempted to tackle rough sleeping through a number of major initiatives, and billions of pounds of public funds has been invested in the voluntary sector to support people away from the streets and help them to rebuild their lives.
In April 2003, the government implemented and rolled out the Supporting People programme.
As a result, £5 billion was ring-fenced to support and augment existing services for the homeless.
It is the case, however, that many homeless people end up sleeping rough in Westminster.
It is also the case that there are more homeless services in Westminster than anywhere else in the country.
Also, since Romania, Bulgaria and Poland acceded to the EU, we have noticed large numbers of people arriving at Victoria coach station homeless, and joining the ranks of the existing rough sleeper community in Westminster, with no recourse to public funds, and unable to speak English, and there is no sign of the situation abating.
Surely the council cannot be held responsible for this?
As regards the head counts, many local authorities, particularly Westminster, have been accused of massaging the rough-sleeper data downwards for many years.
I recently took part in a head count organised by the Simon Community homelessness agency, and we found 200 people sleeping rough in Westminster alone in the early hours.
This does not mean that Westminster is being dishonest just because it counted 99 – as there could be a problem with the methodology that it applies.
Having worked within the voluntary sector and local government for the past 14 years to the present.
I can assure you that the situation has vastly improved.
However, it is extremely difficult to make provision for those who have become entrenched rough sleepers, and it is all but impossible to provide accommodation for those who arrive here from the new accession countries, as almost all homeless hostels are funded by the state, and they cannot provide accommodation to people who are ineligible for benefits.
PHILIP BURKE
Simon Community Trustee
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