🌙 July Rough Sleeping Count: A Night on the Streets With Newham’s Teams

 

Picture from the last months Count, just before midnight, as Newham Council teams headed out for July’s bi‑monthly Rough Sleeping Street Count. Every two months, Council rough sleeper officers, outreach workers, Councillors and volunteers come together for this essential work. We meet at 10.30pm at Newham Dockside for a briefing, then head out in teams to known hotspots across the borough.

The aim is simple but vital: understand the scale of rough sleeping in Newham and assess whether recent interventions are making a difference. While the primary role is to count, if someone is awake and willing to engage, we take basic details so outreach workers can follow up from 6am the next morning with advice, support, and a chance to move people off the streets.

I was the driver for my team. We visited a well‑known hotspot and spoke to several rough sleepers — some open to support, others sadly not. We also checked an area recently blocked off by the Council to prevent dangerous sleeping conditions. Encouragingly, it had “worked”: no one was sleeping there anymore.

Midway through the night, we encountered an unconscious man in a railway station. We immediately called 999. The handler guided us through how to move him to help his breathing until help arrived. The fantastic London Ambulance Service reached him very quickly and took over. I don’t know whether he was a rough sleeper, though I suspect he may have been — but the incident was a stark reminder of how dangerous these environments can be for vulnerable people.

Once our tasks were complete, we returned to Dockside to report our findings and I headed home. I was back around 1am — early compared to some counts.

Huge thanks to Paul and his team, to all the outreach workers, and to every volunteer who took part. And a special mention for Cllr Susan Masters, Cabinet Member for Adults Services, whose passion and commitment to this work is unwavering.

🌙 Rough Sleeper Count: A Midnight Snapshot of Life on Our Streets

 

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.

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.

Newham Bi Monthly Rough Sleeping Count Jan 26

 

Yesterday, I joined Newham staff and fellow councillors for the bi-monthly count of residents sleeping on the streets in Newham. 

We met at the Newham Dockside office at 11 p.m., and after an extensive briefing, we headed to various known “rough sleeping” hotspots to count how many people were out. 

Split into teams of two or three, we were given maps and information on available support services. The main goal was to gauge the scale of the issue and assess the effectiveness of our policies, but if we encountered rough sleepers open to talking, we could connect them with help. 

It was a bitterly cold night, and I was glad our patch had no one sleeping rough. Returning to Dockside just before 1 a.m., we found two other teams had also come back with nil returns. I’m not sure about the other teams’ results, but hopefully, the numbers were very low.

Many thanks to the staff for their professionalism and dedication, and to Paul and his team for organising everything and keeping us all on track.

Newham Rough Sleeper Count May 2025

 

Last night I joined the team going out from Newham Dockside Building to start the bi monthly count from midnight util 3am of rough sleepers in Newham, East London. 

The team is made up of Council officers, stakeholders and local Councillors. We were fully briefed beforehand on the how and why, what to do if we come across someone very vulnerable and personal safety. 

We were split up into groups of 2 or 3 with maps and sent all over Newham, where it was believed from recent reports, people may be sleeping rough. If they were asleep we were told to just count them but if they were awake and willing to engage, we should take some details of their circumstances and they would be visited by the early morning shift of outreach workers to see what help and support could be offered. 

I went again with Council officer Aidan, to cover two patches of Newham. I was pleased that despite it being a warm night, for the first time in a long time, we did not find anyone sleeping rough sleeping. 

But I am very sure that other groups did find people sleeping rough elsewhere in the borough. 

Thanks to Paul (white tee shirt) and his officers for organising this so well. Ajitha, the recently retired former Council manager of this team must be so proud. 

My Municipal Week- Full Council, Rough Sleeping Count & Spring Litter pick

 

A fairly busy week. On Monday I attended the Full Council meeting at Stratford Town Hall. I asked a question on the role of social economic class in reducing inequality in Newham and also moved an amendment on an opposition motion regarding Private Rental Sector licensing. 

The amendment was to make it clear that Newham was one of the very first Councils to introduce such licensing, in face of huge opposition from some Landlords and the Tory led coalition Government of the time. While we are in favour of all landlords in Newham being subject to licensing, we have to fully comply with the law. The amendment was accepted in full by the movers of the original motion and then Council. 

On Thursday I took part with Councillor colleagues, officers and volunteers in the bi-monthly Rough Sleeper Count. We left Newham Dockside before midnight in teams of 2-3 and were given patches to cover and count the number of people found sleeping rough on the streets. In my team we found one person sleeping on the streets. I do not yet know how many were found overall and what the trend is compared to previous counts. 

This was the first Count that had taken place since the former "Street Population Manager" Ajitha Sajeev retired. On Friday evening I attended her leaving "do" at Stratford Town Hall (See picture bottom left).

Finally, today I joined the West Ham community Group "LoveE15" with my Councillor colleagues to carry out the Spring letter pick in our ward. It is amazing how much litter there is even in streets which at first glance look clean. I got into conversation with a resident and admired his front garden and he offered by a Yucca plant cutting which he was planning to throw away. Which I gladly accepted and have now put in water as he recommended. I must ask whether I have to declare this as a gift? 

Hat tip pics James Beckles and John Morris. 

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. 

Newham Annual Rough Sleeping Count November 23

 

On Tuesday evening I took part with fellow councillors, outreach workers, council officers and other volunteers in the annual count of people sleeping "rough" in Newham. Across the country similar counts are taking place. Newham also does extra counts every alternative month. 

We had to arrive at Newham Dockside building for 11pm to be briefed (and eat the provided crisps, biscuits, chocolates and mince pies) then go out to be on site from midnight up to 3am. 

I was a driver and "counter" paired with an outreach officer from the homelessness Charity "Change, Grow, Live" who are contracted by Newham. I am also one of the two UNISON NEC members (and employed in the sector) for the UNISON Housing Associations and Voluntary organisations Community Service Group, so it is always interesting to speak with other workers who I represent nationally (wearing of course different hat). It was pretty cold that night and I had 4 layers of clothing, gloves and a UNISON LAS hat. 

We were asked to visit tower blocks in Newham where there had been past reports of rough sleeping. We had to visit 8 such blocks - take the lift up to the top floor then walk down the fire escape communal stairs. 

On our first tower block we found 2 rough sleepers settling down to sleep on the stairs and a third bed unoccupied. We engaged with them and they were polite and apologetic for sleeping on the stairs and explained that they believed that they will be getting more suitable accommodation very soon. We made arrangements for the follow up team in the morning to visit them and offer advice and support. This team started at 5am. 

You can see from the stats in the picture college that the number of rough sleepers in Newham has gone down dramatically in recent years. But it is still a huge issue and while they must be treated with respect and humanity, it is simply not a safe place to sleep on our streets (or communal stairways'). 

I do not know the overall Newham figures yet but will post again when I do. 

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.  

Newham Council Bi Monthly Street Count - Wednesday 26th May 2022

 

Picture of volunteers, Councillors and Council outreach staff before the latest bi monthly count of people sleeping "rough" in Newham.

We met at Newham Dockside building at 11pm. We had a briefing on the purpose of the count and how to make sure that we treat everyone with respect and dignity, while being aware of our personal safety.

After the briefing we split into our teams and talked about how we would visit all our allocated sites and made sure we had the right instructions, directions, keys, touches etc.

There were 5 "count" teams and also staff left in Newham Dockside to make hourly safety check calls and deal with any issues that may come up. We had to start the "count" at midnight and be back to Newham Dockside at 3AM at the latest.

My team was led by Ali who is a Newham outreach worker. We also had Martina, who is a civil servant with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, who have been supporting our bi monthly counts and myself.

Our first stop was at a Council tower block where there had been reports of people sleeping "rough" nearby . I had been here before but had never seen anyone. This time to our surprise, we were asked to come into the block and speak to 3 young men, who were sleeping in a disused store room inside the block. They wanted help and assistance. They were very polite, wearing dressing gowns and gave us their names and telephone numbers in order for outreach workers to contact them.

We then walked through some parks but did not see anyone (but were challenged by a Police patrol as we were unlocking a gate to get in).

There was one scene we came across, which was to me rather upsetting. 3 men were fast asleep on a pavement wrapped together outside a building next to a busy main road sharing one blanket. While it was not as cold and wet as the last count in March (where I saw no-one sleeping on the streets) I could not imagine myself sleeping at this site. I hope the early morning outreach workers (who start at 5am) and will be tasked to speak to them, will be able to help them find more suitable accommodation.

We finished relatively early and went back to Dockside to report our findings.

Newham Council Rough Sleeping Street Count: 25 May 2021

 

Last night I took part again in the latest count of people "rough sleeping" in Newham. Council Officers, members, outreach workers and volunteers, turned up at the former Council staff restaurant area in Newham Dockside building at 11pm for a coffee then briefing. At 11.45pm we went out in teams of 2 to visit different parts of the borough in order to observe and count the number of "rough sleepers". 

One of the reasons to do this is to show funders of measures to support rough sleepers and help get them off the streets that we make a difference. 

Due to Covid the count team is scaled down from the past. I went out with Kris from Thamesreach to visit Stratford town centre. 

We found two people sleeping separately in shop doorways. One of whom was unknown to outreach. This information was fed back to the early morning outreach shift, who would contact both of them and offer support. 

While we found evidence of more people sleeping rough in the past (abandoned mattresses and clothing), it is amazing what a difference our outreach teams, local volunteers and other agencies have made. 

I can remember previous counts in Stratford when we would see over 100 people sleeping rough. While having to close Stratford shopping centre overnight due to Covid made a huge difference, the joined up compassionate but pro active response has made a huge difference. Well done to everyone involved including former rough sleepers with lived experience. 

This "success" also shows that you can deal with street homelessness if you have the will and the resources. However, at the moment many rough sleepers are being housed in hotels and other forms of temporary accommodation. Some of these hotels are now wanting to cater again to the business and tourist market while the government is clearly either getting rid or reducing the financial support they had promised local authorities to get everyone off the streets.