Last Thursday evening, just before midnight, our Newham Council teams gathered once again for the latest bi‑monthly count of people sleeping rough across the borough. From midnight until 3am, staff and volunteers fanned out across known locations, not only to record numbers but to engage with people where possible.
Some colleagues (not pictured) were already stationed at key “hot spots” to speak with individuals, understand their situations, and offer support. The emphasis in these areas was not just on a head count—important as that is for understanding the scale of the issue—but on meaningful contact.
I paired up with a Council colleague to visit an area where we know rough sleeping is more prevalent. Even when you’ve done this work for years, it remains a sobering experience. Seeing vulnerable people trying to rest in noisy, exposed, polluted, and sometimes dangerous surroundings is a stark reminder of the realities many face every night.
And yet, amid the hardship, there were glimmers of hope. As we walked, my colleague shared stories of long‑term rough sleepers who, through persistent outreach and support, have moved into permanent accommodation. Those successes matter. They show what is possible when services are properly resourced, when trust is built over time, and when people are met with compassion rather than judgement.
The count is never easy, but it is necessary. It grounds us in the truth of what’s happening on our streets—and it strengthens our resolve to keep pushing for the support, housing, and long‑term solutions people deserve.
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