Am I seeing more people living on the streets? Although perhaps a less visible concern than it was when the government's Social Exclusion Unit published its first report 10 years ago, rough sleeping has never gone away. In 1998, official figures estimated around 2,000 people slept on the streets in England every night and 10,000 during the course of a year. Current estimates are much lower, but a looming recession and the mortgage squeeze add a sense of urgency to updating the strategy.
- What was in the original report?
A list of common factors for those who end up sleeping rough, such as family breakdown, which would often see young people forced to leave home or care before they were ready. It also gave an overview of what was available to rough sleepers: access to shelters and hostels, as well as health, training and advice services. The government promoted a co-ordinated response, emphasising getting people off the streets and into accommodation with a return to education, training and employment.
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