Newham Rough Sleeper Count 27 March 26

 

Early this morning, I joined a team of homeless outreach workers and fellow councillors for the bi-monthly count of people sleeping on the streets of Newham. 

We met at 11 p.m. (Thursday) at the Newham Council Dockside Building for a briefing on our purpose, how to treat rough sleepers with respect, and personal safety advice. 

We began the count at midnight. While the main aim was to record the number of people sleeping rough to assess the situation and determine which measures are effective, we also handed out leaflets explaining how to access help and support, including medical care. 

I’ve previously been in many other inspections and had covered Manor Park for the count but I requested a change, so it was insightful to visit Stratford, where the scale of the problem is more significant. I worked with a fantastic, friendly, and knowledgeable team of homelessness practitioners and gained a much better understanding of the challenges in supporting vulnerable people. 

We finished the rough sleeper count, including parts of my West Ham ward, and returned to Dockside around 2 a.m. before I headed home. Forgetting to block my work calendar, I’d booked a “difficult” 9 a.m. union meeting, which thankfully went somewhat fine. 

I’ll wait for the official count figures but know we must bring them down—life on the streets shortens lives. We have to do everything possible to prevent this and provide solutions for all those in critical housing need.

National Rough Sleeping Count: Newham October 2025

 

On Tuesday evening at 11pm I went to the Newham Dockside headquarters with fellow volunteers and outreach workers for a briefing by Council officers on this years National Rough Sleeping Count in Newham. 

Every year there is a national count of people sleeping on our streets. I believe that at least 5 London Boroughs were holding their annual count on Tuesday/Wednesday morning. Newham Council however also does local counts every 2 months

After the briefing we were divided into several different groups and given maps and information sheets for a particular area in Newham to visit between 12 midnight and 3am. The aim was to simply count the number of people in that area who were bedded down and sleeping on the streets. If people were awake and wanted to engage, we would take their details and give an information sheet about a local drop in day centre where they can have hot food, shower and clean their clothes. Also we would arrange for outreach advice workers to visit them at their location from 5am onwards the following morning. 

I was a driver for one of these groups, there was a outreach team leader and two other volunteers from a local housing charity with me and we visited 7 locations in our designated area, which were known "hot spots" for people sleeping on the streets. The weather was dry and quite mild for the time of year. 

We found one young man sitting on the floor outside a community centre behind a wheelie bin who denied he was sleeping there but later he was seen sleeping on the floor. As we returned to my car another young man approached us and said he was homeless and asked if we could help. We took details and gave advice and arranged for him to see the early morning outreach team.

Next outside a public building, were two young men preparing to go to sleep near a very busy and noisy road but content to speak to us and we also made arrangements for them as well to speak to the outreach team and visit the day centre. 

All the other sites had no one visible. We returned to Newham Dockside and reported back. I was then able to get back home by 2am. 

I do not know what the final "count" was in Newham or elsewhere but I believe the figures are fed back to the Government to inform their policy on rough sleeping. I will post further on the results and any resulting action that will be taken to address this crisis. 

Newham Street Count - September 25

 

Picture from last Thursday’s Rough Sleeper count. We were a mix of Newham and voluntary sector officers and Councillors. We met at the Newham Dockside building at 11pm. We had a briefing then we’re split up into teams of 2 or 3 and sent out to different parts of Newham from midnight. The aim was to count the number of homeless people sleeping out doors. My team visited several locations known to be used in the past but found no one on this occasion. 

However, 20 people were found sleeping on the streets elsewhere in Newham. Which was 8 less than the last count in July but still too high.

The annual nationwide count will take place next month.

Newham Council Task & Finish report on 10 Year plan to solve the Temporary Accommodation Crisis

Yesterday, I presented a report to Full Council on the recommendations of a task and finish Group that I chaired, on the Temporary Accommodation crisis in Newham. This report was accepted unanimously. 

The key recommendation was that we have to have a credible long term plan not just to manage the crisis better (as important as that it) but to eventually solve it. 

This means not only do we have to raise our own game as a Council but also that the Government needs to be convinced that they have to provide the financial support and subsidy for us to provide sufficient secure, safe, green and affordable homes to house our 7000 homeless. 

Not an easy ask considering the dreadful state of public finances after 14 years of Tory rule but one we have to make. It used to be the case that British politicians from all political parties accepted that it was their duty to make sure that everyone had access to decent housing. We need to work to restore that belief. 

Check out the report here (Public Pack)Supplementary Agenda Two Agenda Supplement for Council, 14/07/2025 19:00

UPDATE: check out online ES articule on the report Plea for more cash to support thousands of families in temporary accommodation in east London borough | The Standard

Ajitha's Last Count

Picture is from last night just before midnight at Newham Dockside. We were just about to go out and take part in the bi-monthly Rough Sleeping Count. It was also the "Last Count" to be organised by Newham "Population Manager", Ajitha Sajeev, who had been awarded the BEM in 2020 for services to the homeless. 

Ajitha has worked for Newham Council for 33 years and will be sadly missed. 

Homeless outreach workers, volunteers and local Councillors are split up into teams of 2 or 3 to tour Newham in the early hours to count the number of Rough Sleepers. 

I went again with Newham Officer, Aidan and we came across and spoke to one rough sleeper bedding down on freezing concrete paving, with only a thin blanket. Aidan took his details and discussed help and support. We did come across a tent pitched on a green area but were unable to establish whether anyone was in it and did not want to disturb anyone who might have been. So we took location details and also passed them back to Ajitha when we returned to Newham Dockside. 

In the early morning a follow up visit of outreach workers go to the Rough sleepers found by the count teams to try and assist them 

The information gained during the count is also used by the Council and the Government to assess the effectiveness of the various homeless initiatives taking place in Newham to support Rough Sleepers and help them get off the streets. 

Help Save Homeless Londoners' Lives

 

"As temperatures drop to freezing, the @mayorofldn.bsky.social and London Councils have activated the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP), which means that London boroughs and City Hall will be opening up emergency accommodation for rough sleepers".

Hat tip @tomcopley.bsky.social

Newham Council Homeless Street Count Jan 24

Last week at midnight (00.01 24.1.24) I joined Newham Councillors, outreach workers and officers to take part in the bi-monthly Street Count of homeless residents sleeping outdoors. 

We met up at Newham Dockside building beforehand, had a briefing and were divided in teams of two - a driver and lead.  We all had patches within Newham where it was believed we may find people sleeping outdoors (rough sleeping). A team was already out early to deal with an emergency. 

I went with Cllr Jane Lofthouse and we toured parts of East Ham checking out known "hot spots". We came across two people sleeping in office doorways. The weather was not as cold as it has been the last few week but it had been raining beforehand and it was very windy (end of "Storm Jocelyn"). 

One was asleep but the other was awake and we able to have a chat and take some details so outreach workers will come down and see him in the early morning. Hopefully, they will be able to take him off the streets and help him find more suitable accommodation. 

After dropping off Jane at home and the documentation at Dockside, I was home for 2am. Will update on what the other teams found when I get the data. 

UPDATE:  Not on this Newham count but this report about biggest increase in rough sleeping late last year in London is alarming. 

Less than 4 days to go before 26 Mile Homeless Charity walk in London

 My wife Gill describes me looking like a condemned man in this photo!

Now wishing that I had trained more and sorted out my walking gear earlier but it is too late now to do much about these things.

I did a 10 mile walk from home to Chingford during the weekend which left me feeling a little sore the next day (it was very muddy) so what I will be like this Sunday after 26 miles? 

We start (team of 35 from Clarion Housing) 10am on Saturday 27 January at the Oval Cricket club for the 26 Mile route which goes around the River Thames from Putney to Rotherhithe finishing again at the Oval. There about 4000 walkers in total taking part during the weekend. 

I hope to walk around 3mph so it should take just over 8 hours (with another 30 minutes in breaks). 

Wish we luck and if you can sponsor me please do at this "JustGiving" site. St Mungo's is a National Homeless charity, which as a housing officer, I have seen first hand do some great work in supporting vulnerable clients. 

Countdown to London 26 Mile Winter Walk 2024 - 24/25 days training days to go

I am taking part in a sponsored 26 mile walking marathon at the end of this month for the homelessness charity St Mungos with colleagues from work. 

Most of the recent holiday was spent walking in the Peak district which was good cross training but I only averaged around 13500 steps per day. For the 26 mile walking marathon I will have to complete around 55,000 steps. It should take between 6-8 hours of walking at a reasonable fast pace. 

I am trying to go out walking 3 times a day (early morning, lunch and evening) for short walks and plan longer ones in the weekends. Listening to BBC sounds on my headphones or making telephone calls is a great way to get some walking practice. 

Yesterday evening I went to Westfields to check out suitable walking footwear but could not find anything I like, so I might take part in my normal sports shoes but I think I will need more cushioning for concrete/tarmac. 

I am raising money via this Just Giving Page. Please consider sponsoring me if you can. 

 

The Housing Crisis: A possible positive way forward & a definite negative

On Thursday evening I took part in an informal discussion of a possible way to provide much needed homes for homeless families. The suggestion is largely untested at scale, extremely complex, potentially financially risky but may (repeat may) offer a "least worst" way forward.

Later that evening I met residents from my ward (with my ward colleague Cllr John Whitworth. Our 3rd ward colleague, Cllr Mclean, is a member of a Planning Committee, so therefore could not attend) to discuss a local planning proposal. 

This proposal would, if accepted, result in in new homes being built but only at "Market rents".  In September 2022  average rents in Newham for a one bed flat was £1300 per month. 

There is also a number of other important objections to this particular development. 

While there will be some payments by the developers to fund possible social housing or infrasture, it would appear that very little if any, of the 5800 on the Newham Council homelessness register or the 34,000 on its waiting list will be able to afford such "market rents". 

I hope we can find a way to fund more homes for homeless families but I will certainly be working with residents to change, or if necessary, stop any proposal to build any single development that is 100% market rents.

Newham Street Count: 17.11.22

 

Picture is of local volunteers, Council officers and Councillors about to go out at midnight on Thursday to take our part in the UK annual nationwide street count of people sleeping rough. We also had observers to verify our results from the civil service and academia. 

While this national survey takes place once a year, in Newham, we also carry out mini surveys every 2 months. 

This time I was a driver/lead of a team of 3, with Tim who is a volunteer from the "NewDay" project and Burt, who is a senior lecturer in the London School of Economics. 

We went to a Newham postcode and local park that I have been to on previous counts many times. Despite the recent awful wet and rainy weather, we found 4 people sleeping on the streets in a doorway. 3 of whom were still awake and content to speak to us about their situation and what help they need. We took details which we passed on at the end of the count to enable outreach workers to go out and speak to them that morning (their shift started at 5.30am). 

I don't know what the other teams found but the local and national results will be published soon. 

Many, many thanks to Council manager Ajitha and her team for their hard work and commitment.  

Bad Regulation = Bad Landlords

Hat tip "Nearly Legal" and check out this sobering report on the regulation of private sector renting by the National Audit Office.

There are 4.4 million privately rented "households" in England. Those who have bad experiences of such renting may "find it contributes to serious illness, financial issues or homelessness...The proportion of households in England living in privately rented accommodation has approximately doubled in the past 20 years, and the sector faces several challenges:

On average, private tenants spend more of their income on housing (32%), compared with those living in their own properties (18%) or social housing (27%).

The market is increasingly populated by low-income groups, benefit recipients and families, whose access to other housing options may be limited.

In around 29,000 instances in 2019-20, households were, or were at risk of being, made homeless following an eviction that was not their fault.

Many local authorities face funding pressures, which can constrain their ability to check properties proactively for non-compliance and therefore places greater reliance on tenants being aware of their rights and reporting problems".

As the NAO chart shows (p16) what this means is renters in the private sector can suffer harassment, live in dangerous properties, face financial exploitation, receive poor service, unaffordable rents and be completely insecure. Ironically to use a phrase loved by the Tories about Social Housing it is increasingly the "tenure of the last resort".

While there are many good landlords who offer and maintain quality homes for rent they are often under cut by bad landlords.

What we need is not only greater regulation but for this to result in a shift in the power relationship between landlords and tenants. To do that we also need effective and independent renter unions.

"Why my council is refusing to help the Home Office deport rough sleepers" Emine Ibrahim

Hat tip to an excellent article in the Guardian by my UNISON comrade and Housing Lead for Haringey Council, Cllr Emine Ibrahim. I am sure that Newham Council will support this but I was not allowed to bring this issue up at last weeks Cabinet meeting which was a real shame.

"The plan to deport homeless non-UK nationals punishes the most vulnerable in society. It has no place in our borough

I wasn’t surprised to learn of the Home Office’s plan to make rough sleeping grounds for the deportation of some non-UK nationals. We all know about the department’s recent history – the impacts of the Windrush scandal are still raw, and a recent report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission found that the Home Office had broken the law. But that doesn’t mean we are going to accept it in our borough.

Last week, the London borough of Haringey, where I am a councillor, decided to take a stand. We feel the new Home Office rules are discriminatory and so we said that we won’t be collaborating with it on these rule changes.

There may be those who think that this is just the attitude of “hard left” councillors or the “do-gooders” (to quote the prime minister) of “north London” (to quote the home secretary). But look past the caricatures of this part of the capital city and you’ll see something else. The political experiences that brought many of us here are stories of seeking refuge. This might include family stories of fleeing the Holocaust; personal histories of exile from former Yugoslavia; Kurds, Somalis and others leaving perilous situations in the Middle East and Horn of Africa; and those who fled homophobia and domestic violence. Stories like these run through our family, friends and neighbours.

My family arrived in north London in the 1960s and 70s, escaping the descent of their homeland, Cyprus, into conflict in the years following British colonial rule. I left my birthplace in south-east London as a child with my sister and mum in the middle of the night in 1986, when Mum sought refuge with relatives in Haringey after a sudden family breakdown. We faced the homelessness that is now familiar to many families on waiting lists across London. Haringey was there for us. The borough that the late Bernie Grant – then head of the council – led was our haven. I know similar experiences motivate many of my fellow councillors.

This is why we will do all in our power to keep it that way for people at their most vulnerable. When our outreach workers gently wake someone sleeping rough in the middle of the freezing night and ask if they’re OK and if they want somewhere warm to sleep, the badge they show them is there to seek trust, give assurance and change their lives. It isn’t to strike fear into them that they will be deported.


New rules on removing foreign rough sleepers from UK face legal challenge

Read more

Many people sleeping rough have faced exploitation and unbelievably difficult personal challenges. Councils across London work doggedly to help them find safety and stability.

As a result of the pandemic, many more people are having difficulty in paying their rent and bills, and keeping up mortgage payments. The authorities should be relieving, not adding, to their distress. The reality is that many people are just a lost job or family crisis away from housing insecurity or homelessness.

Since March, Haringey has been working with partners to provide support and emergency accommodation to more than 800 people who faced sleeping rough. Overcrowded housing and sofa-surfing meant many came to us for the first time. We saw the reality of the hidden homelessness that we knew existed. We now have the lowest number of people on our streets that we have seen in years, but we still must work tirelessly. Many of those that we are trying to support into more secure accommodation are non-UK nationals who do not have recourse to public funds.

Last week, I joined our outreach team on our annual rough sleeping count, when workers and volunteers walk the borough to locate and offer help to people who are sleeping on the streets. Two wonderfully committed women and I went out with torches on what felt like a foggy, Dickensian night. We found someone rough sleeping on Tottenham Green, gently gained his trust and got him a taxi to accommodation nearby. More than half of the people we met that night had not been born in the UK.

The passion our rough sleeping team have is boundless; they genuinely care and are incredibly skilled. What they are not is an extension of the Home Office. Local government has over decades seen the gradual extension of the hand of immigration enforcement undermine trust in the services we deliver.

The hostile environment – which has since been rebranded as the compliant environment – is a scandal. It treats those who weren’t born here, or look like they might not have been born here, with suspicion, forcing them through bureaucratic punishment. And it’s all for politics. As charities and lawyers have said, in a letter to the home secretary, going after foreign-born rough sleepers will punish victims of modern slavery and may send women back to dangerous situations in countries that they have fled.

We are awaiting details on what the precise duties imposed by the government on local authorities will be regarding rough sleepers. The Home Office says it will be “used sparingly”, but how can we trust the department given its track record? When sharing information with other organisations, our priority will always remain safeguarding and tackling inequality. The Home Office’s policy is not about helping but punishing the most vulnerable in our society. It has no place in Haringey.

• Emine Ibrahim is a Labour councillor for Haringey and cabinet member for housing and estate renewal

Newham Annual Rough Sleeping Winter Street Count 2020

 

On Thursday evening at 11pm I went to Newham Council Dockside Building, to be briefed and then take part, in the annual survey of the number of people sleeping on our streets. This is a national survey that all councils are expected to carry out that particular night (not sure if only England?). 

The weather had turned very cold and for the first time this season, I had to clear my car windscreen of frost/ice before driving to the briefing. 

Due to Covid there were only 7 small teams, covering known rough sleeping "hotspots" in Newham. The teams comprised of 16 in total: Council officers, 3rd sector organisations, local volunteers, 4 
Newham Councillors and a representative from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Govt

There was also a team that stayed behind in order to make hourly checks on everyone to make sure they were safe and to take in the data at the end. Including a representative of the charity Homeless Link, who would independently verify the results. 

We were briefed by Ajitha Sajeev, a fantastic long serving Newham officer, who has been recently been awarded a BEM for her work https://www.johnslabourblog.org/2020/10/newham-hero-honoured-by-queen-on-world.html

I went as a team driver with Kris, a manager from the homeless charity Thameslink, who I have been  on many previous Newham Counts together. 

We had a number of "hot spots" to visit and I was pleased that we found only one person sleeping rough that night in a large Newham retail park. We were able to have a constructive  conversation with him and found that he did want help with getting his national insurance number, in order to find work (and hopefully safer accommodation). He did not want accommodation that night but outreach workers will visit him very early the next morning to see what they can do to help. 

While I cannot yet say what was the total number of people sleeping rough in Newham on Thursday due to the need for verification, in September 2018 it was 105 but in September 2020 if was only 12. This is thanks to the superb outreach work carried out by our officers, stakeholders and volunteers but also due to the government funding promise following the announcement in March of the "everyone in" policy for all rough sleepers to be offered accommodation due to covid. 

This shows what can be achieved if you have the funding and political will to solve a housing crisis. Hopefully this will be a lesson learnt. 

Since it was so quiet I was home just after 2am. 

Newham Rough Sleeper (Mini) Street Count June 2020

Pictures from last night's Newham Rough Sleeping (mini) Street count with Councillors, Council officers and 3rd sector partners going out during the night to count how many rough sleepers there are. Usually this is done every two months.

Due to COVID19 only 4 teams of 2 people were sent out however, we visited 43 sites that have recent reports or historically associated with rough sleeping in Newham (and also there were central staff doing safety checks and gathering stats).

We met up in a local hotel that the Council has block booked to house and support rough sleepers. We took bottled water and sun cream to hand out (it has been very hot lately)

My team toured Manor Park and East Ham and "only" met 1 person sleeping on the streets! (S/he is well known to outreach workers and they are trying to support).

I am not sure if we can publish the actual figures yet from last nights count but it is no secret that it will be definitely and dramatically down from Pre covid times and the decision by the government to get "everyone in" into accommodation and off the streets

This shows what can he done if you have the will and the resources but we need our Government to commit further money & humane changes to the "No Recourse to Public Funds" (NRPF) rules to get rid of the blight in our society of vulnerable people sleeping on our streets. 

Impact of Covid-19 on homeless

Lola works in housing and is a member of my UNISON branch. I have a clash tomorrow but I have sent Lola a 3 minute video with our experience in Newham London and some ideas about the future. I will be watching later to find out what is happening in Birmingham and Medway.

Stop Boris stealing homes from low income families!

Despite the corona virus emergency we must also keep an eye out on what else the government is proposing.

UNISON has spotted that the Tories are proposing to stop local authorities using developers contributions (so called section 106 money) to fund homes for low income families.

Instead it will be used to subsidise first time buyers of private homes.

This will decimate local authorities ability to have homes built for low income families.

If the Government wants to support first time buyers then that is great, but do not do this at the expense of desperate vulnerable homeless or overcrowded families.

So check out UNISON resource links below on these "First Homes" proposals and respond :-

• download and share the UNISON briefing;
• find out more about the government consultation, including how to respond and download the consultation document;
• use UNISON’s housing affordability tool to find out how the housing crisis will affect you and your family. Make sure you share your result on social media and email your MP on the subject;
• tweet to your MP and ask them to support the policies in our housing manifesto and the manifesto summary – using the hashtag #UNISONHousingManifesto;
• find out more about UNISON’s housing campaign.

Hat tip great picture to Steve Bell

Busy Labour Movement Day

This morning (Wednesday) started off with a 9am tour and presentation at Anchor House in Canning Town with Councillor colleagues. Anchor House is a former Seaman's mission which is now a charity that specialises in supporting single homeless adults.

It has a very innovative proposal to convert unused space into a further 18 bedrooms. I was also impressed with the improvements to communal livings spaces and installation of a new kitchen and laundry.

Later I went to the UNISON HQ in Euston for a long meeting of its NEC Policy Development and Campaign Committee (PDCC). Which included some excellent reports from our devolved nations Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Congratulations to Northern Ireland  for its recent successful NHS strike action over pay.

I was devastated to see that my beloved North Wales is now almost totally controlled by the Tories. Unbelievable. Incredible. Only Alan & Deeside (I was born and bred in Buckley) survived by a few hundred votes (we would have been wiped out if the Brexit Party had stood down). Need to learn lessons quickly before Welsh Assembly elections in May. Onward and forwards.

We spent ages  debating and voting on draft motions to our National Conference. Finished just after 4pm.

Next as a NEC member for Community (Voluntary sector and Housing Associations) I had a briefing on the Community Service Group in Greater London region.

At 6.30 pm I was in the Old Town Hall,  Stratford to take part in the public consultation on the Newham Council Budget proposals which went really well.  I sat on a round table with Councillors,  officers and residents discussing our proposal to tackle Rough Sleeping by increasing spending by 400% to £1.8 million per year. Residents were challenging but on the whole broadly supportive of all our budget proposals especially those on improving our environment. They recognise that due to continual government cuts, difficult choices will have to be made.

Final event of the day was the launch of a new community group called "Voice of Newham". The Mayor, Rokhsana Fiaz, myself and local Councillors were invited to speak about our future plans for Newham and how by working with all our communities we will bring about change. Finished about 11pm.

A long day but a good day.

A Christmas Tale: "Newham has the highest rate of homelessness in the country, report reveals, as council ramps up support"

A modern day Christmas tale: Hat tip Newham Recorder 

"Newham has the highest rate of homelessness in the country, a report by housing charity Shelter has revealed.

The council says a shortage of social rented property, high private rents and benefit changes are pushing more people into homelessness, which Shelter's annual report estimated affects one in 24 (a total of 14,535) people in the borough.

Deputy Mayor John Gray said the council is putting "significant resources" into dealing with the crisis, including expanding its street outreach team and day service provision, and funding a high needs rough sleeper unit.

New figures from Shelter reveal 280,000 people - one in every 200 - are recorded as homeless in England and all but three of the 28 worst affected local authorities are in London, where private rents are notoriously expensive.

The next worst rate after Newham was in both Haringey and Kensington and Chelsea, where one in 29 are homeless.

Newham recently adopted a dedicated Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy for the first time in a decade, which was developed with the support of Shelter and covers the two years to December 2021.

Cllr Gray, the council's lead member for housing, said: "Since this administration came into office in May 2018, addressing the challenges created by the government's housing crisis has been a key priority and considerable work has been done in this area.

"We are directing significant resources to deal with the crisis and are set to spend an additional £1.4m per year to improve services supporting rough sleepers and creating preventative measures to reduce the risk of others becoming homeless.

"To increase housing supply, we are increasing the number of genuinely affordable social rented homes with plans to build at least 1,000 in place and building work already under way.

"We are also looking at providing our own supply of quality temporary accommodation so we are not reliant on private landlords."

The council's street outreach team, which has been expanded from two to 10, works with the rough sleeping community to gather evidence of needs, find solutions, and engage with them to develop pathways away from the streets.

A recent effort to engage with rough sleepers in the Stratford Centre area, where a large number of tents appeared over the summer, resulted in 13 people placed in emergency accommodation, 13 assessed for health and other needs, and 19 tents removed.

Overall, 52 rough sleepers were accommodated in November.

Twenty beds are available at a high needs rough sleeper unit at Caritas Anchor House in Canning Town.

A temporary 25-bed assessment hub has been set up to allow rough sleepers, where health treatment, money and immigration advice, addiction and mental health support is available under one roof.

Cllr Gray said: "With the raft of measures already implemented and working with partners and the community, we are determined to drastically improve the current situation and reduce the threat of homelessness facing some of our most vulnerable residents."

Shelter's review of government data also revealed that almost 220,000 people in England were threatened with homelessness in the last year.

The true level of homeless is believed to be higher than the recorded figures show, as a lot of it is undocumented, including sofa-surfing and some rough sleeping.

Shelter chief executive Polly Neate said: "Homelessness blights lives and leaves a lasting imprint of trauma, and yet 280,000 people in England are without a home this Christmas - and many are only days away from joining them.

"As well as those facing serious ill-health or even death sleeping rough on our streets this winter, there are thousands of families trapped in grotty emergency B&Bs, with no space for children to sit and eat, let alone play.

"This is the grim truth our new government must confront and do something radical to change."

To donate to Shelter's Christmas appeal, visit www.shelter.org.uk or text SHELTER to 70030 to donate £3. Texts cost your standard network rate plus £3.

Visit to ThamesReach Martha Jones House

This morning I went on a visit to Martha Jones House, which is a 50 bed high needs hostel in Vauxhall, run by Thamesreach, a London based charity helping homeless and vulnerable people. I had been invited with my fellow Deputy Mayor (Tower Hamlets not Newham), Cllr Rachel Blake (see photo top middle).

Martha Jones House, is an impressive, purpose built hostel, just over a year old. I once went to a UNISON branch meeting in the nearby old hostel a few years ago and Martha Jones is much better.

We had a tour of the building and spoke to residents and staff about the facility and what they offer. Many of the residents are former rough sleepers who are referred by assessments centres. All must have a Lambeth "local connection". The hostel is supported financially by Lambeth Council. What I found particularly impressive is that they have no absolute "exclusion" policy and will potentially accept residents with the most challenging needs or behaviour. Residents are normally expected to stay for a maximum of 9 months.

After the tour we had a really useful and constructive "brain storming" session with staff about homelessness, rough sleeping, temporary and permanent accommodation. What do charities such as Thamesreach want local authorities to do and what can charities do to assist local authorities?

My takeaway from this is as well as specialist hostel provision you need effective floating support in suitable permanent accommodation is get people off the streets.

Adequate funding is also essential. You cannot deal with rough sleeping on the cheap.

Many thanks to Thamesreach Chief Executive, Bill Tidnam, Catherine Parsons, Director of Operations (the fantastic manager of the hostel, whose name I have rudely forgotten) and to residents C and N for their insights.