Homeless data

19 December 2022

Your request

Please may I request the following information for your local authority area:

1. Any data collected on who turns down support offered by local authority outreach teams. This could include demographic/circumstantial information (i.e. why they refuse/where they are staying) on who disengages and the number of people
2. Any data collected on people who stay in squats, including the number of people who are arrested or cautioned for squatting in the local authority
3. Any data collected on people residing in unconventional accommodation types such as temporary structures
4. A breakdown of where people are counted in local rough sleeping snapshots (e.g., cars, sheds, doorways)
5. Data collected on the number of people staying in overcrowded and concealed households and any accompanying demographic information such as sex, age, ethnicity.
6. Data collected on the number of people who “sofa surf” or stay temporarily in the homes of others.

Our response

1. This cohort change on a regular basis and Lambeth are aware each month who has refused offers of support. Where individuals refuse offers of support, the Lambeth outreach team consistently work with these individuals to support them off the streets an into accommodation. The primary reasons for rejecting offers of support include; mental health support needs, immigration support needs, engagement in street activity and transient rough sleeping. In November 2022 of 33 rough sleepers verified, 28 refused offers of support. 25 male and 3 female.
2. Under FOI Section 1(1) any person making a request for information to a public authority is entitled (a) to be informed in writing by the public authority whether it holds information of the description specified in the request (b) if that is the case, to have that information communicated to them. 

I am advised by my colleagues that Lambeth Council does not hold any such information because arrest figures and data is held by Police.

Consequently the answer to Section 1(1)(a) is NO and thus our further duty under 1(1)(b) does not arise on this occasion.

You may contact the Police via their FOI channels to seek this information and they may be able to provide it.

3. Under FOI Section 1(1) any person making a request for information to a public authority is entitled (a) to be informed in writing by the public authority whether it holds information of the description specified in the request (b) if that is the case, to have that information communicated to them. 

I am advised by my colleagues in Housing and Public Protection that Lambeth Council does not hold any such information. Consequently the answer to Section 1(1)(a) is no and thus our further duty under 1(1)(b) does not arise on this occasion.

4. In Lambeth's most recent snapshot estimate in November 2022, 33 rough sleepers were verified. Of these:

• 18 were found on the street
• 2 were found in estate grounds
• 3 were found in a tunnel
• 1 was found in makeshift structure
• 4 were found in an underground car park
• 2 were found in a church yard
• 1 was in tent
• 1 was in a park
• 1 was at a bus stop

5. There are over 40,000 households on the council’s waiting list today 13/12/2022 and where we have information on their ‘current housing type’ when they applied, relevant to the enquiry,  that information is as follows:

6. As per Q5