Why the Rough Sleeping Census is important

We have made an unprecedented pledge to end rough sleeping and have made great progress bringing the number of people sleeping rough, to an eight year low.

?Our ongoing commitment to this vital goal was enshrined in the ￡2 billion Rough Sleeping Strategy that we announced earlier this year. It sets out how we will end rough sleeping for good, by breaking the cycle of addiction and creating spaces of longer-term wraparound support for those who might need it.

?We have worked with charities and former rough sleepers to inform our strategy, which sees the provision of beds and support staff, as well as thousands of long-term supported homes. For those who are suffering with addiction, we are working with providers like Housing First Support , whose Navigators give practical one-to-one support to the most vulnerable in society helping them on their road to recovery.

We have made great progress, but know we have a long way to go, still and are working towards a good outcome.

Recently, Rough Sleeping Minister Andrew Stephenson met the volunteers at The Connection at St Martin-in-the-Fields, as they carried out the Women’s Rough Sleeping Census. This is vital work that will help us better understand the experiences of women sleeping rough on the streets and how we can support them to rebuild their lives.

?This will include both practical and emotional support. To find out more about the support our strategy offers, click here