Homelessness: Rough Sleeping

Lord Davies of Stamford Excerpts

Monday 7th March 2016 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

I thank my noble friend for raising that question, because I certainly have. Crisis has been absolutely invaluable in providing, for example, underwritten tenancy deposits for homeless people. The programme has seemed to be very successful, with 90% of those people adhering to the tenancy and making it work.

[Lord Davies of Stamford (Lab)]

My Lords, the whole House ought to be grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Spicer, for raising this matter successively at a number of Question Times, because we have had a much more detailed answer from the Government in their initial response today than ever before. Many of us suspect, on anecdotal evidence, that the real problem is in London. Can the Minister tell the House the estimated numbers of rough sleepers and available hostel places in London?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford]

My Lords, the number of rough sleepers was estimated to be 3,569 on a given night last autumn.