MHCLG currently collects monthly management information about the support provided for people sleeping rough and those at risk of sleeping rough from all local authorities across England. This data is collected on DELTA via the Rough Sleeping Monthly Survey.
In addition, the Rough Sleeping Data Framework was launched across all local authorities in England in May 2023. It includes monthly rough sleeping snapshot estimates for all local authority areas. This information gives a fuller picture of the dynamic and seasonal nature of rough sleeping, and illustrates the work done by local authorities to provide a pathway off the streets and into long-term accommodation. However, these data are not subject to the same quality assurance and certification processes that are part of the annual autumn rough sleeping snapshot estimates.
This means that a dedicated systematic and consistent approach is needed to get comparable, real-time rough sleeping snapshot figures from every local authority in England. The approach used since 2010 is to collect national rough sleeping statistics using a snapshot approach where each local authority chooses one ‘typical’ night and follows the same guidance.
A snapshot records only those people seen or thought to be sleeping rough on a single ‘typical’ night. It does not include everyone in an area with a history of sleeping rough, or everyone sleeping rough in areas across the October-November period. The process depends on local agencies having, and sharing, intelligence about who is sleeping rough and where. This can be a challenge because patterns of rough sleeping often fluctuate, for example as people move between sheltered and unsheltered homelessness; in and out of prison and hospital; into and out of relationships; and as the availability of housing, support and income fluctuates. The process also offers an opportunity to improve partnerships and responses, especially for those areas seeing an increase in people sleeping rough.