Research and analysis

Technical note

Published 5 June 2025

Applies to England

1. Data tables and interactive dashboard

Twenty-five accompanying tables are available alongside this release. These include information on the eight core framework indicators.

An interactive dashboard enables users to explore the new framework indicators in more detail.

2. Data quality and limitations聽

This management information provides more timely and more detailed data on rough sleeping and the support for rough sleepers compared to the annual rough sleeping snapshot.聽

The management information is collected via a regular survey to local authorities, which began in May 2020. Local authorities were asked to provide data underpinning the new framework indicators from May 2023, and the final 3 core indicators from June 2024, although some indicators have been collected for longer as they were already part of the rough sleeping management information collection. All local authorities are requested to complete the survey.聽

Local authorities submit their management information via MHCLG바카라 사이트檚 online data collection system. The DELTA online data collection system includes inbuilt rules and validation checks to ensure the data provided is complete and accurate.聽

As well as the inbuilt validations via DELTA, MHCLG analysts also carry out a series of quality assurance checks including checks for outliers and comparison of the information with other relevant data sources.聽

The data is not independently verified. It has been provided by local authorities, each of which will have their own internal processes.聽

The which is the regulatory arm of the completed a review of the very first publication against the . This review considered the value, quality and trustworthiness of these statistics in relation to the Code. The review recommendations are being taken forward.

Voluntary compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics

The was published in February 2018 to set standards for organisations in producing and publishing official statistics and ensure that statistics serve the public good.聽

MHCLG바카라 사이트檚 Rough Sleeping Data Framework release does not include official or official accredited statistics, as it is designated as management information, but the framework is used to monitor rough sleeping trends in England. This compliance statement outlines how we are voluntarily applying the Code of Practice for Statistics to ensure that the analytical outputs are trustworthy, of high quality and have public value.

Trustworthiness聽

Trusted people, processes and analysis聽

Pillar	How this framework aligns with this pillar
T1 Honesty and integrity	Data is analysed by professionally qualified and experienced data analysts - professional members of the GSS, GORS or GSR professions. Data is provided by local authorities and scrutinised by government rough sleeping advisers to monitor local approaches to rough sleeping.	聽
T2 Independent decision making and leadership	The work is governed by the Analysis and Data Directorate in MHCLG, accountable to MHCLG바카라 사이트檚 Chief Analyst and the Head of Profession for Statistics.	聽
T3 Orderly release	MHCLG pre-announces the publication date for this data. This is usually done on the release page of previous publications, which is updated once precise release dates are known.	聽
T4 Transparent processes and management	MHCLG has robust, transparent data-management processes which are applied for data analysis. Data is provided by local authorities. MHCLG works closely to ensure data collection processes are well understood. External research was commissioned to understand data collection and quality assurance processes across different local authorities, demonstrating MHCLG바카라 사이트檚 willingness to maintain transparency. An outline of the production process and quality assurance carried out prior to the publication of the Rough Sleeping Data Framework is available in the latest release.	聽
T5 Professional capability	All responsible MHCLG analysts are members of government analytical professions, where all staff have met a minimum standard of analytical capability and all of whom have Personal Development Plans focused on their long term professional development.	聽
T6 Data governance	Data is collected at an aggregate level and is not personally identifiable. Responsibility for data lies with the data controllers (i.e.바카라 사이트痩ocal authorities). MHCLG has assessed the risk of identification from data as very low and therefore does not apply suppression to small numbers. MHCLG is consulting local authorities about the use of their data to ensure agreement and transparency.	).

High quality聽

Robust data, methods and processes聽

Pillar	How this framework aligns with this pillar
Q1 Suitable data sources	Data is collected by local authorities, primarily through outreach activities. Data relies on self-disclosure or referrals from relevant agencies (e.g.바카라 사이트痶he other government departments, Adult Social Care, or local refugee charities). In London, data is provided directly from CHAIN, which is a multiagency database recording information about people seen rough sleeping by outreach teams. One aim of the framework is to encourage local authorities to link up with key partners to share data to better understand their rough sleeping populations. The commissioned research mentioned in 바카라 사이트淭4 Transparent processes and management바카라 사이트� highlights how best to improve consistency in data and will feed into further guidance on improving data.
Q2 Sound methods	Data collection tools and processes are robustly designed and tested prior to use, learning lessons from previous Rough Sleeping Management Information data collections and best practice from across the government analytical community. An outline of the data process is available in the latest release.
Q3 Assured quality	An outline of the production process and quality assurance carried out prior to the publication of the Rough Sleeping Data Framework is available in the latest release. MHCLG is developing further data verification processes with local authorities to raise data standards and ensure consistency. Reproducible Analytical Pipelines are used to minimise human error and all outputs are quality assured prior to publication. A revisions policy is in place to ensure that any revisions are addressed quickly and systematically.

Public value聽

Supporting society바카라 사이트檚 need for information and accessible to all聽

Pillar	How this framework aligns with this pillar
V1 Relevance to users	MHCLG developed the framework over 18 months in conjunction with the Centre for Homelessness Impact and 50 pilot local authorities. MHCLG also holds quarterly rough sleeping data forums with local areas to consult on any changes regards the monthly management information and keep areas up to date about new data requirements or improvements related to rough sleeping. MHCLG is also part of the cross-government housing and homelessness group, which enables analysts across the devolved nations working on homelessness to collaborate and learn from each other. The framework enables local government, national government and partners to know what is required to drive progress to reduce rough sleeping across England, so local areas can identify where specific action is needed to drive improved performance. This is an important step towards having a consistent data set across England that captures the complexity of rough sleeping. The management information provides more timely and more detailed data on rough sleeping and the support for rough sleepers compared to the annual rough sleeping snapshot statistics, which is MHCLG바카라 사이트檚 official and most robust measure of rough sleeping on a single night. Users are encouraged to provide feedback on how these statistics are used and how well they meet user needs. An additional set of indicators is currently being tested with pilot areas to assess the usefulness before being adopted more widely.
V2 Accessibility	These data are released as soon as possible after collection. The data is used for operational purposes before publication, by rough sleeping advisers, policy officials, ministers and local authorities to monitor progress and develop timely interventions. This enables immediate action to be taken. To assist with public accessibility, the release is published as HTML, and aligns with Gov.UK accessibility principles.
V3 Clarity and insight	Complex data are clearly explained in each data release and accompanying technical notes. Explanations and definitions were built in collaboration with the Centre for Homelessness Impact and pilot areas. The HTML release which goes out alongside the data tables provides insight and commentary, and interactive dashboards are provided to offer more flexibility for those who are less data literate.
V4聽 Innovation and improvement	The data framework is a simple set of powerful indicators. The framework is a key step towards having a consistent data set across England that captures the complexity of rough sleeping, with future improvements including the development of additional indicators and further data verification processes.
V5 Efficiency and proportionality	There are regular reviews of data collection with local authorities to ensure that the burden of collection is outweighed by its operational usefulness.

To assess the quality of new management information, we compared the monthly rough sleeping management information estimates with the 2024 Rough sleeping snapshot data. These two different sources were correlated which provides confidence that local authorities are consistent when estimating the number of people sleeping rough on a single night. For the monthly rough sleeping snapshot estimate, local authorities are advised to use a snapshot approach which will provide the most robust figure. This should be 1 of the 3 approaches that are used for the official rough sleeping snapshot, which may include a count-based estimate, an evidence-based estimate meeting or an evidence-based estimate meeting including a spotlight count. If no snapshot has been conducted within the month, local authorities should gather their intelligence, data sources and records to establish what a single night figure would be and submit this as their estimate.

MHCLG commissioned Homeless Link to undertake research to investigate how local areas in England have implemented the new rough sleeping data framework and to appraise data collection methods and validation processes being used to provide this information. The rough sleeping data framework quality assurance review shows there is some disparity in data management and technical capacity between different local authorities and there is some variation in the interpretations of the definitions for the new indicators which is as expected given the infancy of this new framework. The information that underpins the new indicators is largely gathered by outreach workers as part of their regular outreach activity. Information may also be gathered from referrals from partner agencies to help identify people that may not engage with services. This means the quality of the information is linked to the coverage and frequency of outreach activity as well as the local data systems in place to accurately track and record this information.聽

The information about institution discharge is gathered via self-disclosure by people sleeping rough and/or information sharing from institutions, so the quality is also linked to the reliability of self-disclosure and data sharing from partners. Identification of people sleeping rough who are new, returning or long term relies on the local systems in place to identify unique individuals, avoid double counting and accurately track individuals over time using historical records, which will take time to develop.聽

There are some comparability issues between local authorities in London and the rest of England, as the definition of new, returner and long term rough sleeping applies to the whole of London, compared to each local authority across the rest of England. There is also some overlap between the long term and returner indicators if a person has not been seen sleeping rough for the last 6 months, but in the 6 months previous was seen 2 further times, this would mean this person is both a long term rough sleeper and a returner. There is also some overlap between the new and returner indicators if a person returns to sleeping rough after not being seen for more than five years.聽

There are also some challenges around the consistency and comparability of the approach being used for the single night snapshot month on month and between areas, as there is more local discretion for the monthly snapshot compared to annual snapshot around the approach used, the date for the single night snapshot, the coverage etc. The single night snapshot can also be impacted by the weather, where people choose to sleep, the date and time chosen, and the availability of alternatives such as available night shelters.聽

The indicator on 바카라 사이트渘umber of nights seen바카라 사이트� is particularly reflective of outreach activity, making this indicator less comparable nationally than other indicators. A 6-month period was chosen to mitigate for this, but outreach frequency varies greatly across the country, with some areas conducted outreach once a month, and other areas conducted outreach multiple times a day.聽

The information about people sleeping rough over the course of the month, includes known people and people identified by outreach activity, so may not include all hidden homeless groups.聽

This research has been used to develop further guidance for local areas to improve the quality and comparability of the data underpinning the new indicators.

Figure 1: Quality Assurance Process flowchart

An outline of the production process and quality assurance carried out prior to the publication of the rough sleeping data framework.

Start: MHCLG provide guidance to LAs on questions to be included in monthly rough sleeping management survey (end of each month).聽

1. Rough sleeping monthly management information survey is issued to all LAs in England and GLA via DELTA online data collection system (end of each month).聽

2. Information on rough sleeping over the course of the month is prepopulated via information from CHAIN, for all London boroughs (1st week of month).聽

3. LA submits data to MHCLG using DELTA online data collection system (2nd week of each month).聽

4. Inbuilt validation rules and checks ensure the data provided is complete and accurate before submission.聽

5. MHCLG conducts further validation, sense checks and quality assurance prior to publication Discuss discrepancies with rough sleeping advisers and LAs if needed prior to publication.聽

End: MHCLG publishes management information (approximately 6 - 12 weeks after collection).

We have taken a pragmatic approach to our statistical disclosure control policy which balances the need to protect individuals being identified alongside the aim to make the data as useful as possible.聽

There is a low risk of people being identified from data given the time that has passed since, the size of the local area and no discernible means of being able to link a person being seen on the streets today and a person recorded in the figures.

3. Related statistics

Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN)

The Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) is a multi-agency database recording information about people seen rough sleeping by outreach teams in London. CHAIN is managed by , a London-based homeless charity and is used by organisations working with people sleeping rough in London. Information is recorded onto the CHAIN database by people who work directly with people sleeping rough in London (e.g.바카라 사이트痺orkers in outreach teams, day centres, hostels and resettlement teams). CHAIN does not cover 바카라 사이트榟idden homeless바카라 사이트� groups, such as those who are squatting or staying in inaccessible locations to outreach workers.

Hostels and support services

Homeless Link publishes an , which includes information about the number of hostels and shelters in England and available bed spaces, as well as the support and services available to single people who become homeless in England.聽

MHCLG related statistics

The rough sleeping statistics do not provide a definitive number of people or households affected by homelessness in England. The term 바카라 사이트榟omelessness바카라 사이트� is much broader than people sleeping rough. It is difficult to provide an accurate estimate of all homelessness across England. Data used to compile any estimate is collated from different datasets, which sample different subsets of the population over different time frames. Any estimate of homelessness in England will collate datasets that are not discrete from one another, which means some individuals may have been included more than once in the estimated total.聽

Support for people sleeping rough

MHCLG collected and published management information about the support for rough sleepers and those at risk of rough sleeping since May 2020 to October 2023, initially as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.聽

This management information provided more timely information about people sleeping rough but uses a similar collection approach to annual rough sleeping statistics, albeit without the greater verification of the annual statistics.聽

This quarterly publication provided a fuller picture of the dynamic and seasonal nature of rough sleeping, and illustrated the work done by local authorities to provide a pathway off the streets and into long term accommodation.聽

Following the roll out of the new data framework to all local authorities in England, in May 2023, this quarterly publication will now focus on the metrics in that framework.聽

Annual rough sleeping snapshot

The MHCLG바카라 사이트檚 official annual rough sleeping snapshot statistics, provide a way of estimating the number of people sleeping rough across England on a single night in autumn and assess change over time. This is the most robust measure of rough sleeping given they are independently verified and are published in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics. These statistics provide information about the estimated number of people sleeping rough on a single night between 1 October and 30 November each year and some basic demographic details (i.e.바카라 사이트痑ge, gender, nationality).聽

Statutory homelessness聽

MHCLG also collect and publish quarterly statistics on the broad characteristics and circumstances of households owed a statutory homelessness duty. This includes households who approach the council for help with housing who are sleeping rough. The statutory homelessness statistics includes some but not all of the people provided with accommodation in response to COVID-19 through the 바카라 사이트楨veryone In바카라 사이트� support. Not all individuals assisted through 바카라 사이트楨veryone In바카라 사이트� would have been owed a homelessness duty. Any individual not owed a homelessness duty would not be part of the local authority case level data submission to MHCLG and therefore would not be included in the Statutory Homelessness statistics. People sleeping rough will only be recorded in these statistics if they have made an application that has been accepted by the local authority. There are 3 main groups that are not included in the statutory homelessness statistics that would be included in the management information. These include:聽

People not eligible for statutory homelessness assistance because they are 바카라 사이트榩ersons from abroad바카라 사이트� specifically excluded by the legislation.聽

People sleeping rough who did not engage with the assessment process required to take a homelessness application, or who were not owed a relief duty by the local authority.聽

People who were provided accommodation via upper tier local authorities, such as Greater London Authority (GLA) who do not have statutory homelessness duties, and do not provide data via the Homelessness Case Level Information Collection (HCLIC) data system.聽

These statistics include information about the accommodation at the time of application, including if a person was sleeping rough, and include information about support needs, including offending history, care leavers, former asylum seekers and whether applicants had served in the HM forces.聽

Hidden homelessness

MHCLG produce other statistical releases that can help build up the wider homelessness picture. For example, the English Housing Survey publishes data on the number of people sofa surfing and concealed households in, which are additional adults in a household who wanted to rent or buy but could not afford to do so.聽

Social housing lettings for homeless people

In addition, the CORE social housing lettings collection publishes data on those moving from homelessness into local authority/ private registered providers accommodation.聽

Expenditure on homelessness

MHCLG publish statistics on local authority revenue expenditure and financing in England. The RO4 return within the Revenue Outturn suite relates to housing services and includes information on local authorities바카라 사이트� expenditure on homelessness activities.

4. Revisions policy

Non-scheduled revisions

Where a substantial error has occurred as a result of the compilation, imputation or dissemination process the statistical release, live tables and other accompanying releases will be updated with a correction notice as soon as is practical.聽

If a local authority notifies MHCLG of an error in the information they have submitted after publication of the release, a decision on whether to revise will be made based upon the impact of any change and the effect it has on the interpretation of the data.聽

Scheduled revisions

There are no scheduled revisions for this release.

5. User engagement聽

MHCLG, has developed the new framework over the last two years in conjunction with the Centre for Homelessness Impact and five early adopter pilot areas (London, Greater Manchester, Newcastle, West Midlands and Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole).聽

MHCLG also holds quarterly rough sleeping data forums with local areas to consult on any changes regarding the monthly management information and keep areas up to date about new data requirements or improvements related to rough sleeping.聽

Users are encouraged to provide feedback on how these statistics are used and how well they meet user needs.聽

Comments on any issues relating to this release are welcomed and encouraged. Please contact roughsleepingstatistics@communities.gov.uk if you have any feedback or comments.聽

6. Devolved administration statistics聽

The devolved administrations publish their own statistics on homelessness which contain information on rough sleeping:聽

• The on the number of households applying to the local authority for assistance under homelessness legislation who say they have slept rough the previous night or have reported their housing situation as 바카라 사이트榣ong term roofless바카라 사이트�.聽

• The on persons placed into temporary accommodation and rough sleepers.聽

• The governing legislation for homelessness in Northern Ireland is the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 (as amended). Unlike the other three UK nations, housing is allocated by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), which covers the whole of Northern Ireland, rather than by local authorities. In Northern Ireland, statistics on homelessness are obtained from the NIHE. They carry out an in partnership with other local agencies and homeless organisations.

Comparing between UK countries

The figures are not directly comparable between parts of the UK as they have a different methodology, coverage and are carried out at different time periods. ONS published a and an on the comparability and coherence of existing UK 바카라 사이트 data sources on homelessness. ONS have also published a

7. Dates of future publication聽

The publication dates for future rough sleeping management information is as follows:聽

• Rough sleeping data framework, June 2025, due to be published September/October 2025聽

• Rough sleeping data framework, September 2025, due to be published November/December 2025聽

• Rough sleeping data framework, December 2025, due to be published February/March 2026