The Rough Sleepers Unit (England)

Host Country : United Kingdom

Place and date : London , 5. - 6.5.2004

Peer countries : Denmark - Finland - France - Luxembourg - Norway - Romania - Sweden

The Rough Sleepers Unit (RSU), established in April 1999, had responsibility for delivering the target of reducing rough sleeping in England to as near to zero as possible and by at least two-thirds by 2002. In December 2001, it announced that the latter target had been met and estimated that the number of people sleeping rough in England on any single night was around 530, a reduction of 71% since 1998. Latest figures show that the reduction has been sustained, and that there are still less than 600 people sleeping on the streets.

Measurement of progress was by rough sleeping street counts, based on methodology developed in partnership with the voluntary sector. Independent evaluation has shown consistently that they are the most effective method for evaluating the changing levels of people sleeping rough. Other methods exist to measure wider forms of homelessness.

Since 2002, this work has been incorporated within the government's new Homelessness Directorate. The Directorate's recent report More than a roof sets out a new approach, which looks at helping people with the problems they face as well as improving the places they live. The Directorate must ensure that the lessons learnt by the RSU are appropriately addressed, for example by Homelessness Strategies at local level.

Source: Information from United Kingdom Government to EC

Peer Review manager

Ms Nicola Oberzaucher ( European Centre )

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The Rough Sleepers Unit (England)

Host Country : United Kingdom

Place and date : London , 5. - 6.5.2004

Peer countries : Denmark - Finland - France - Luxembourg - Norway - Romania - Sweden

Peer Review manager

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