1. Counting the Homeless in the UK Census
By Emma Wood,
Head of Field Force Operations, ONS

2. Enumeration of homeless/rootless
Enumeration of those in hostels and night shelters
Enumeration of Rough Sleepers
2001- Methodology, outcome and lessons learnt
2011 Research and current plans

3. Homeless Rootless Next UK Census 27 March 2011
People will be counted where they are usually resident
People staying in a household with no usual residence counted where they are staying
Not distinguishable from other household residents.

4. Hostels and Nightshelters
Treated as Communal Establishments
Establishment managers complete questionnaire about the establishment
Those staying their complete an Individual questionnaire – assuming they have no usual residence elsewhere
Establishment Manager responsible for getting Questionnaires out and back from those staying there.
Questionnaires delivered and collected by Census staff who will support Manager.

5. Counting Rough Sleepers - 2001
Conducted 29/30 April 2001 between 22:00 and 06:00.
Used teams of Census field staff with support from Local Authorities and outreach workers.
Individual completed questionnaire or Enumerators did this on their behalf.
Sleepers not woken up – Enumerators guessed basic demographic information

6. Rough Sleepers – 2001 Results 938 Rough Sleepers counted
866 staff required to achieve this count
Some local counts contradicted Census counts – some Census counts disputed

7. Rough Sleepers 2001 – Lessons learnt
Needed more help from voluntary sector and LAs to improve quality and cost effectiveness.
Very difficult to balance requirements of central government, local government and voluntary sector and still carry out an independent count.

8. Towards Research
Liaising with Department for Communities and Local Government
Local Authorities must conduct counts at least once a year if more than ten rough sleepers
Observed Local Authority count in Westminster – attracts a lot of Rough Sleepers and conducts counts twice a year

9. Westminster count
Westminster divided into sectors. Teams of two sent to count – paired voluntary sector staff with Local Authority staff
Independent verifier used
Local Police used to follow-up missing information
Approach much more informal then a Census Enumeration

10. Westminster – who was included in the count
People sleeping or bedded down in the open air (such as on the streets, or in doorways, parks or bus shelters), people in buildings or other places not designed for habitation (such as barns, sheds, car parks, cars derelict boats or stations).

11. Westminster Count
Many people encountered did not fit the precise definition of ‘bedded down’
However, precise definition needed to prevent double counting
Used team of approx 35 to count approx 70
Very good use of local knowledge and expertise of working with this group

12. Future trends Aim to end Rough Sleeping by 2012
More investment in day time support
Fewer opportunites to sleep rough

13. Plans for 2011
Had hoped to conduct LA counts around time of Census and use the data gathered to collect key demographic questions for Census.
Now ruled out – Census regulations mean individuals must get opportunity to complete their own questionnaires
Possible change of government in 2010 would be a significant risk

14. Plans for 2011
Now likely to use a Census field force to count rough sleepers as in 2001
Working with membership organisation for UK homeless agencies – Homeless Link
Investigating ways of increasing the number of LA and voluntary sector helpers – to be involved in the count or in the training
Considering how we will spread the message to the voluntary sector and to Rough Sleepers that the Census is beneficial

15. Conclusions Counting Rough Sleepers is a big challenge
Difficult to balance quality with cost effectiveness
Answer lies in statistical organisations forming relationships with homelessness organisations and in utilising expertise