Annual rough sleeper count

Stratford-on-Avon District Council is required by Central Government to carry out an annual rough sleeper count on a specific night during October/November. The most recent count took place on the night/early morning of 6 and 7 November 2024, in conjunction with partner agencies via an early morning street count and an intelligence gathering meeting.

Despite efforts in the District to reduce rough sleeping the number of people reporting sleeping outside increased during 2024, which reflects national trends. Numbers of people rough sleeping have increased since 2022 across all regions of England.

This year's count concluded there were 10 rough sleepers outside on the selected night. From a height of 17 in 2017, this compares with 10 in 2018, 6 in 2019, 4 in 2020, 3 in 2021, 4 in 2022, and 2 in 2023.

According to Public Health England, causes of rough sleeping are often the due to a combination of structural and individual factors. These include poverty, inequality, housing supply and affordability, along with access to employment and benefits.  People experiencing rough sleeping also have individual factors that make them more vulnerable to homelessness due to trauma and adverse childhood experiences.  Other difficulties include poor mental and physical health and substance misuse. 

Those seen begging, particularly in Stratford-upon-Avon town centre, are unlikely to be homeless, with either their own tenancy, or in emergency accommodation. The District Council and its partners are working together to encourage those who are begging in the town to take up the available support.

The District Council continues to invest in measures to prevent homelessness and rough sleeping and reduce the length of time people spend on the streets, via its housing strategy, its work with partner agencies including Spring and P3, and the work of its Housing Advice Team carrying out the Council's statutory functions under the homeless legislation.

Councillor Liz Coles, Housing and Customer Services Portfolio Holder, said: "The Council recognises the challenges locally and nationally around increasing numbers of people sleeping rough and is committed to working with its partners to address this across our District. There is now significant provision locally for those who end up rough sleeping, but we are not complacent and know there is more to do."

If anyone is concerned about someone, they believe to be rough sleeping in the district, they can report this via the Street Link website: www.streetlink.org.uk/

People who wish to donate in order to help those on the street can do so via 'Meaningful Change'.

Stratford-Upon-Avon Meaningful Change provides an alternative way for the public to give to people rough sleeping or begging. By donating to Meaningful Change, rather than directly to the person on the street, you can be sure your money will go towards making a meaningful change. The money is pooled and used to fund interventions designed to help people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness make a meaningful change to their lives.  You can donate via the Meaningful Change website - https://meaningfulchange.org.uk/stratford/donate/

There are various organisations in Stratford that can help and support those sleeping rough.

• P3 Charity: Intensive support to people in the district, and Housing Related support to over 25s in Warwickshire: https://www.p3charity.org
• St Basils: housing-related floating support to those aged 16 to 25 in Warwickshire https://stbasils.org.uk/get-help/
• CGL: Drug and Alcohol Service Warwickshire https://changegrowlive.org
• Spring Housing: The Fred Winter Centre in Stratford-upon-Avon is managed by Spring and has accommodation units and a community hub supporting local people with a focus on housing plus a range of services which address homelessness and hardship - https://fredwintercentre.org.uk/ 
• Citizens Advice South Warwickshire: Self-help, telephone support, drop-in session and appointments are offered with support available at the district council offices and community advice locations in the district. www.citizensadvice.org.uk
• JobCentrePlus: Stratford-upon-Avon JobCentre Plus https://www.jobcentreplusoffices.co.uk