Council's rough sleeper count 'tip of the iceberg'

Peterborough City Council said the total number of rough sleepers in the city is 24, according to the latest national count

Charities have said a city's official rough sleeper numbers were not an accurate reflection of the problem, calling the figure the “tip of the iceberg”.

Peterborough City Council revealed there were 24 rough sleepers in the city, according to the latest national rough sleeper count recorded in November.

Hope into Action said the number should be recorded throughout the month for more accuracy, which would take the count into "the hundreds".

The council published the data this week, and recognised that it is a “snapshot figure” of one night and “it does not take into account those who have been helped off the streets in the intervening period.”

Hope into Action supports homeless people in Peterborough and said it has been working with partners to address the issue

The council said Peterborough’s total contrasts with a national rise of 27% from 2022, with an estimated 3,898 rough sleepers in England.

“This is testament to the work of the team and the support of partners,” housing needs operations manager Sarah Scase said.

But Peterborough’s rough sleeper charities feel their “demand is rising”.

Jon Kuhrt, from Hope into Action, a national homeless charity based in Peterborough, said: "Rough sleepers are just the visible tip of a far bigger homeless iceberg.

“The figure is a snapshot number from one night recorded five months ago. A monthly figure is a more accurate indicator of the problem - often this is at least three times higher.

"We work closely with local churches to turn houses we lease into homes for those who have been homeless.

"There is a terrible housing crisis. As well as accommodation, people need to feel loved and supported and to be part of a community.”

Steven Pettican, from Light Project Peterborough, said the need for the charity's services had increased

The Light Project Peterborough runs The Garden House - a drop-in day centre for rough sleepers - and the charity's CEO Steven Pettican said it was continuing to see “more new faces seeking help every day”.

He added: “The number of people we have supported in this financial year (2023-2024), as opposed to last year, has doubled with over 11,000 client engagements including food support, drug and alcohol work, and doctor consultations.

“There’s a pressing need from the people for our services.”

Peterborough City Council said it has created a pathway for those sleeping rough, including the purchase of 25 properties to rehome rough sleepers across the city.