Street Based Lifestyle Monitor

Transcription

1 Street Based Lifestyle Monitor Cardiff (October 2013-October 2015) 0

2 Executive Summary Those living a street based lifestyle are the public face of homelessness and yet accurate data around how many people are sleeping rough, moving between emergency accommodation or spending most of their time on the streets is difficult to obtain. Assessing daily rough sleeper numbers is extremely difficult due to the nature of rough sleepers and their need to protect themselves. The Cardiff Rough Sleepers Intervention Team (RSIT) operates in Cardiff supporting street homeless and collecting figures on their numbers and needs. Data was collected for the 25 month period October 2013-October From this data we have identified an increase of 64% in the numbers of those living a street based lifestyle being contacted by the RSIT between the two 12 month periods contained in the data. Figures from October months show an increase in numbers contacted per day from 12 to 17 to 28 in 2013, 2014 and 2015 respectively. A sample of 20 days found that 95% of those being supported by the RSIT service had slept rough that night. The data shows a more than doubling in those living a street based lifestyle being located in Cardiff per day by the RSIT over the last 25 months for some months and therefore indicates a similar increase in those sleeping rough. This data is not intended to be used as an absolute figure for those living a street based lifestyle in Cardiff. It does however provide an indication of the overall trends and can enhance the accuracy of the overall picture of street homelessness in the City alongside other data. Contents 2. Introduction 2. Background 3. Methodology 5. Results 9. Data 20. Glossary 20. References 20. Appendix 1

3 Introduction The Wallich operates Rough Sleeper Intervention Teams (RSITs) in the cities of Cardiff, Swansea and Newport, and the town of Bridgend. In Cardiff the RSIT works in partnership with Cardiff Council and other organisations to support and monitor rough sleepers. RSITs provide immediate humanitarian aid to rough sleepers and those living a street based lifestyle, as well as advice on accessing statutory and other services with the aim of assisting people in finding accommodation. The RSIT is the first link in a chain of support services that aim to eventually see those living a street based lifestyle gain and maintain tenancies and employment if they are able to do so. This report aims to fill a knowledge gap for those working to end street homelessness, whether in Government, Local Authorities or the third sector. There is currently a lack of accurate and useful data in some areas on how many people are sleeping rough daily in Welsh cities throughout the year, who they are and what needs they have. This report does not aim to produce any recommendations for helping those living a street based lifestyle in Cardiff nor does it comment on current service provision. It is simply designed to produce a picture in the city over a 25 month period and to identify any trends within the figures. Background Figure 1 shows the numbers presenting to Cardiff Council as homeless and the decisions the Council made regarding their eligibility for services. Only those actively presenting to the Council are recorded however. This figure provides a background to homelessness in the local authority area but does not provide either the numbers living a street based lifestyle after presenting to the council or those living a street based lifestyle who have not presented to the council. For further information on eligibility, priority need and intentionality see appendix. Accurate rough sleeper numbers are almost impossible to obtain due to the nature of rough sleepers and their need to protect themselves by becoming invisible. The Welsh Government carried out one night rough sleeper counts through Local Authorities in March 2007 & returned a figure nationally of 138 and 2008 a figure of 124. In both years the figure for Cardiff was 26. The Welsh Government themselves admit that these figures do little more than confirm that rough sleeping exists. This may explain why the annual count was discontinued until A further one night count in November 2014 returned a figure of 83 rough sleepers in Wales, with a figure, once again, of 26 for Cardiff. The recorded rate of rough sleeping in Wales is half that in England proportional to population. Alongside the 2014 count, the Welsh Government ran a complementary count over two weeks in which participating organisations logged all rough sleeper enquiries over the fortnight. This census style approach recorded 244 individuals sleeping rough in Wales during November in Cardiff. The figures from the Cardiff RSIT provide an all year round monitor of those living a street based lifestyle in Cardiff. However, they should never be used as an absolute figure for the area. 2

4 Methodology The RSIT in Cardiff records information on people they have supported each day. It covers the city Centre area of Cardiff. The team visit known areas of rough sleeping as well as investigating new referrals, making valuable contact with anyone leading a street based lifestyle. This information includes age and gender of the individual and other fields. Also recorded is the housing status of the individual from the following categories: Rough Sleeper (RS) (slept on the street the previous night) Vulnerably Housed (VH) (in unsuitable very short term accommodation) Bad Weather Provision (BWP or CWP) (short term accommodation provided in bad or cold weather) Sofa Surfing (SS) (temporarily staying with friends) Emergency Overnight Stay (EOS) (1 night temporary accommodation allocated through the Council s Gateway system) Temporary Accommodation (TA) (other than those above) Housed with Support Package in place (HSN) Other This data is recorded on our in house system Discovery, and on paper. Data was collected from this system and analysed to produce graphs showing the mean number of people contacted per day for each calendar month between October 2013 and October 2015 as well. The numbers of different individuals contacted per calendar month was also collected and displayed, as well as the numbers that fit into the following categories: age 16/17, age 18-25, man, woman and no gender recorded. The data collected from Discovery was also displayed in table form for each day between October 2013 and October From the paper based data 20 days were taken spanning October & November From this the number of recorded rough sleepers was recorded and the total number of people supported and a percentage derived. The Cardiff RSIT aims to operate every day. On days the RSIT did not operate N/A is recorded. 3

5 Cardiff Council Homelessness Presentations Eligible, unintentionally homeless and in priority need Eligible, homeless but not in priority need Ineligible households Eligible, homeless and in a priority need, but intentionally so Eligible, but not homeless Total decisions Figure 1: This graph shows households presenting to Cardiff Council as homeless and the decisions made (Source: Stats Wales) 4

6 Mean Daily People Supported Cardiff RSIT Monthly Mean People Supported Per Day Calendar Month Figure 2: This graph shows the number of those living a street based lifestyle that the RSIT made contact with per day as a mean over a calendar month, over a 25 month period. Full daily data is included in the data section of this report. The highlighted areas indicate the winter months. 5

7 Individual Rough Sleepers Individual Rough Sleepers Per Calendar Month Men Women No Gender Recorded Total 18/25 Year Olds Figure 3: This graph shows the number of individual people receiving the RSIT service per calendar month. It also shows how many of these are men, women, whose gender was not recorded and how many were aged How many were aged 16/17 is not displayed as for most months this is zero. Data available on page 9. 6

8 % of Individual People Living a Street Based Lifestyle Cardiff RSIT Specific Groups (Individuals per Month) Women Year Olds Linear (Women) Linear (18-25 Year Olds) Figure 4: This graph shows the percentage that individual women and those aged receiving the RSIT service make up of the total individuals contacted per calendar month. Again 16/17 year olds are omitted for clarity. 7

9 Results People Supported Per Day Figure 2 shows how many people living a street based lifestyle are supported by the RSIT per day. The figure is a monthly mean (total contacts over the month divided by the number of days on which the RSIT operated that month) partly for ease of data handling and partly to smooth out anomalous days where extraordinarily high or low figures are recorded. The pattern is a clear upward trend, with year on year increases in both the winter and summer months. In October the daily average increased from 12 in 2013, to 17 in 2014, to 28 in June saw an increase from 12 in 2014 to 22 in January was the only month to return a similar level of those living a street based lifestyle across the 25 month period, with 8 per day on average in both 2014 and Further analysis of the figures shows that the 12 month average figures were as follows: (Oct 2013-September 2014) 11 (October 2014-September 2015) 18 From this, and figure 2, it can be said that there was a 64% increase in the numbers living a street based lifestyle between the two 12 month periods. Individual Numbers Figure 3 shows that numbers of individuals living a street based lifestyle mirror the numbers being contacted per day. From this we can say that around 15% of those individuals who will be found living a street based lifestyle by the RSIT each month will be contacted on any one day. The street based population is split between those who are transient, perhaps spending one or two days/nights on the streets, and entrenched rough sleepers who may be sleeping rough for a period of months or years. The data we collect does not currently show a breakdown of those who are entrenched and those who are more transient. Specific Groups Figure 3 shows the gender breakdown of the individuals living a street based lifestyle supported over the 25 month period. The data for this graph is contained in table 1 on page 9. Numbers of women supported range from 2 to 31 per month over the period. Also shown are the numbers of year old individuals supported. These range from 6 to 33 per month over the period. Numbers of 16/17 year olds supported were omitted from the graphs as only 1 was supported over the 25 month period. Data shown in table 1. Figure 4 analyses these groups further. This shows the percentage of the total individuals living a street based lifestyle made up by women and year olds. The figures are volatile but it can be said that the proportion of those living a street based lifestyle that are women have altered significantly over the 25 month period, with those that are women increasing from around 8% to ~ 15% and those who are aged decreasing from ~18% to ~13%. The 25 month time period is not long enough to identify significant trends in the make-up of the street based population however. 8

10 Rough Sleeping A sample of 20 days spanning October-November 2015 returned an average of 95% of those being supported by the Cardiff RSIT as having slept rough the night before. Data shown in Table 2. From this we can say that the figures contained in this report are a close indicator of trends in rough sleeping in Cardiff as well as trends in the street based population. Data Table 1: Individuals Supported & Specific Groups Month Men Women No Gender Recorded Total 18/25 Year Old 16/17 year Old Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct

11 Table 2: Sample of 20 days and the proportion of those supported who slept rough Cardiff RSIT Day Total Number of Contacts Number of Rough Sleepers % RS 17/10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ Mean:

12 Pages display the number of people supported by the Cardiff RSIT for each day between 1/10/2013 and 31/10/2015. Where N/A is reported, the RSIT did not operate on this day. October /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/2013 N/A 17/10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/2013 N/A November /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/2013 N/A 17/11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/2013 N/A 22/11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ December /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/2013 N/A 06/12/ /12/2013 N/A 08/12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/2013 N/A 13/12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/2013 N/A 29/12/ /12/ /12/

13 January /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ February /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/2014 N/A 19/02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ March /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/2014 N/A 09/03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/2014 N/A 22/03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/

14 April /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/2014 N/A 06/04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ May /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/2014 N/A 16/05/2014 N/A 17/05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ June /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/2014 N/A 08/06/2014 N/A 09/06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/

15 July /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/2014 N/A 29/07/ /07/ /07/ August /08/ /08/2014 N/A 03/08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/2014 N/A 11/08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/2014 N/A September /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/2014 N/A 28/09/ /09/ /09/

16 October /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/2014 N/A 05/10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/2014 N/A 12/10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ November /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/2014 N/A 06/11/2014 N/A 07/11/ /11/2014 N/A 09/11/2014 N/A 10/11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/2014 N/A 17/11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ /11/ December /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/2014 N/A 21/12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/ /12/

17 January /01/2015 N/A 02/01/ /01/ /01/2015 N/A 05/01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ /01/ February /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/2015 N/A 15/02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/2015 N/A 22/02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ /02/ March /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/ /03/2015 N/A 16

18 April /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/2015 N/A 12/04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ /04/ May /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/2015 N/A 10/05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ /05/ June /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/ /06/

19 July /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/2015 N/A 12/07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/2015 N/A 20/07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ /07/ August /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ /08/ September /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/ /09/

20 October /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/ /10/

21 Glossary RSIT Rough Sleepers Intervention Team Rough Sleepers 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, stations, or 'bashes') Street Based Lifestyle People spending most of their time on the streets. This includes those who are sleeping rough, are spending time in emergency or temporary accommodation or are otherwise unsuitably housed. Individual Person Living a Street Based Lifestyle a person living a street based lifestyle who has been identified by The Wallich. Numbers of individuals living a street based lifestyle are different to daily numbers supported as an individual may be supported repeatedly by the RSIT over a period of nights. References Homelessness presentations figures used in figure 1 are available from Stats Wales at: Decisions/decisionstaken-by-area-eligibility Background information on rough sleeper counts: Further Information Please contact Will Atkinson, Policy & Research Officer, with any queries. will.atkinson@thewallich.net Appendix For information on eligibility for homelessness services see here: A household or person is deemed to be `intentionally homeless under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 if they deliberately do or fail to do anything in consequence of which they cease to occupy accommodation which is available for their occupation and which it would have been reasonable for them to continue to occupy. For information on priority need see here: 20