Agenda item

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services in respect of rough sleeping data for Quarter 3 2021/22 and the following points were made:

·         The total number of rough sleepers in the City of London in Quarter 3 2021/22 was 183 individuals, which represented a 44% increase on the previous quarter and a 39% increase on the same period in 2020/21.  This increase reflected the large number of transient rough sleepers who spent between one and five nights in the City of London, as well as a number of individuals being ‘unknown clients’ with whom it was challenging to engage.  The proportion of new rough sleepers remained high at 33%; however, of 60 individuals identified as new during Quarter 3 2021/22, 62% had no second night out which demonstrated the success of the City of London Corporation’s high assessment accommodation rates.  There had been 82 individuals supported into accommodation or reconnection during Quarter 3 with current accommodation events 110% above pre-pandemic levels and 14% above the height of the pandemic response. 

·         In response to a question from a Committee Member, the Rough Sleeping Coordinator confirmed that individuals who were ‘unknown clients’ were often unwilling to share their personal data or engage with commissioned services but that Outreach Teams continued to work with them to build relationships.  The Committee Member observed that some ‘unknown clients’ may be European Union nationals who were reluctant to engage as they had no recourse to public funds.  The Rough Sleeping Coordinator advised that the Home Office continued to accept applications for the European Union Settlement Scheme where there were extenuating circumstances, such as homelessness, and clients were supported to make applications where appropriate.

RESOLVED, that the report be noted.