Increase in estimated number of rough sleepers in Peterborough

New figures released by the Government today (Thursday) show that there were an estimated 37 rough sleepers in Peterborough on a single night last autumn, compared to 29 in 2018 and 31 in 2017.

The ‘snapshot’ figure is collated by outreach workers, local charities and community groups and is independently verified by Homeless Link.

It is taken on a single day between October 1 and November 30.

RELATED: Peterborough’s winter night shelter to open all year round after funding boost

People sleeping rough are defined as those sleeping or about to bed down in open air locations and other places including tents and make-shift shelters.

The snapshot does not include people in hostels or shelters, sofa surfers or those in recreational or organised protest, squatter or traveller campsites.

In England, the number of people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night has fallen for the second year in a row from its peak in 2017 but remains far higher than 2010 when the snapshot approach was introduced.

There were 4,266 people estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2019. This is down by 411 people (nine per cent) from last year and down 10 per cent from the peak in 2017, but is up by 2,498 people (141 per cent) since 2010.

Cllr Steve Allen, cabinet member for housing at Peterborough City Council, said: “The annual rough sleeper count in 2019 took place a couple of weeks earlier than usual, which is why the figures are higher. This is because in Peterborough the Winter Night Shelter had not opened yet, which provides up to eight rough sleepers with a place to stay for the night.

“This is why we are so pleased that part of the £700,000 grant recently received by the Government will be spent on keeping the Winter Night Shelter open throughout the whole year.

“We know that the levels of rough sleepers in our city has not increased as we complete our own count every month together with the Safer Off the Streets partnership. The numbers for this are steady, with an average of 29 rough sleepers recorded in the city each month.”

The snapshot figure of 37 rough sleepers in Peterborough last autumn states that 30 are male.

Breaking the number down into nationality, 22 are said to be from the UK, 13 from other EU countries, one from a non-EU country and one whose nationality is unknown.

Thirty-two of the rough sleepers are said to be over the age of 26, with four below that age and one person whose age is unknown.

In Fenland, the estimated number of rough sleepers has decreased from 23 in 2018 to 11 in 2019.

Rick Henderson, chief executive of Homeless Link, said of the national picture: “It is good news that the 2019 snapshot recorded fewer people sleeping on our streets, a mark of progress that suggests that increased government funding and the tireless efforts of frontline services are having an impact.

“However, the overall number - which is 141 per cent higher than in 2010 - is unacceptable, and a reduction in rough sleeping does not mean that more people are leaving homelessness behind.

“The reality is that many areas are falling back on short-term, emergency solutions and Government is yet to commit to a long-term strategy securing the support that many people dearly need. Without this, we risk creating a bottleneck into services with inadequate routes out to more permanent homes and the support people need to keep them.

“We are clearly getting something right. What we need now is cross-government strategic action and funding that tackles the root causes of homelessness and ends it for good.”