Rough Sleeping Estimates 2020 Completing your snapshot Tasmin - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Rough Sleeping Estimates 2020

www.homeless.org.uk Let’s end homelessness together

Completing your snapshot

Tasmin Maitland and Bianca Claydon Homeless Link

Definition of rough sleeping

www.homeless.org.uk Let’s end homelessness together People sleeping, about to bed down (sitting on/in or standing next to their bedding)

• r actually bedded down in the open air

(such as on the streets, in tents, doorways, parks, bus shelters or encampments). People in buildings or other places not designed for habitation (such as stairwells, barns, sheds, car parks, cars, derelict boats, stations, or “bashes”).

Who isn’t included in the definition of rough sleeping?

www.homeless.org.uk Let’s end homelessness together People who are:

• in hostels, shelters, squats, campsites,

Traveller sites, organised protest sites

• sofa surfing
• sleeping on public transport
• sleeping in locations not visible during a count-based

estimate

• known to sleep rough sometimes, but not seen/known

to have bedded down on that night The purpose is to record a single night snapshot. Not all forms of homelessness are included. Not every individual seen by services during Oct-Nov will be included.

Choosing your approach

www.homeless.org.uk Let’s end homelessness together There are 3 approaches to choose from. Each approach is a snapshot and will not record everyone in the area with a history of rough sleeping during October – November. The choice depends on the local context of rough sleeping. All areas, including RSI funded areas, can choose from any

• f the three approaches:
• Count-based estimate
• Evidence-based estimate
• Evidence-based estimate, including a spotlight count

Working with partner agencies

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Who to include?

• Outreach teams
• Hostels, day centres, night shelters
• Housing department
• Police
• Community safety teams
• Park rangers
• Faith groups, soup runs,

street pastors

• Advice agencies
• Housing associations
• Social Services, Youth Workers
• Probation
• Health and mental health services
• Refuse collectors, town centre / local

retail security/management, street wardens

Where the approach involves no independent partners , or only those that are part of / commissioned by the local authority, Homeless Link will not be able to verify the process.

Verification

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• Homeless Link arranges a Verifier in person or by phone
• Verifiers are either staff, associates, or volunteers
• All Verifiers are trained by us
• Verifiers follow a code of conduct – see Resources for

Verifiers

• Verification forms are available online for information only
• Observers only
• Verifier back at the count base first
• Don’t submit to DELTA until you have received a

verification form from Homeless Link

• DELTA submissions must match the data on the

verification form

Top tips

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 Always use format “night of (x) into morning of (x)” to avoid confusion  If you have any questions about the process or think there might be disagreements among local partners, talk to Homeless Link – verifiers@homelesslink.org.uk  Only include data/evidence from the ‘typical’ night chosen  Choose a date in the Oct-Nov window  Communicate with your Verifier and Homeless Link in advance  Ensure relevant data sharing protocols are in place to allow information & intelligence to be shared

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 Consider starting later (e.g. 2am) in areas with busy night time economy  Always refer people back to the definition of rough sleeping  Communicate with Homeless Link if any issues arise (including severe weather, local lockdowns etc) as this will affect your ‘typical’ night  Decline requests from local media to join the count. No film crews or photographers on the count.  Read the latest Government advice on COVID-19 and follow this

Top tips

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September

Count-based estimate

 Local Authority appoints a Coordinator  Allow at least 6 weeks to plan the count  Liaise with partners and neighbouring Local Authorities  Set date of the count – Only share on a ‘need to know’ basis. Choose ‘typical night’ between 1st Oct - 30th Nov Avoid disruption e.g. festivals, busy Friday nights, sporting events, charity sleep-outs that might affect rough sleeping  Email Homeless Link to confirm the date and arrange a Verifier: verifiers@homelesslink.org.uk  Set up a DELTA account for submitting your data or check you have access to your account

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September

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 Make contingency plans in case the count is unable to go ahead due to anything related to COVID-19  Ask for volunteer counters – outreach, police, park rangers, voluntary sector, council staff  Map local area, work with outreach or other intelligence to identify hotspots and where count teams will go on the night  Identify issues with access (e.g. parks, stairwells, car parks) and ask police, park rangers, security firms etc for access during the count  Agree Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) contingency plan if in force on the night of the count e.g. re-schedule or submit an estimate

Count-based estimate

Two weeks before

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 Confirm Homeless Link verifier and local counters, get contact details, addresses and plan travel arrangements – Ensure counters have a suitable face covering when travelling in a taxi.  Send ‘Briefing for Street Count Team and Volunteers’ to each counter with instructions on where to meet, timing of the count and what transport will be arranged  Contact Verifier to talk through plan for the count  Notify police of the count  Agree a plan for people found sleeping rough on the night e.g. access to a hub, night shelter, B&B, or other emergency accommodation

Count-based estimate

Week of the count

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 Check local restrictions and contact Homeless Link and the Homeless Link verifier immediately if your area is on the list as the count will not be able to go ahead  Book taxis to/from the count as needed for safety of all participants  Print a map for each count team showing their count area and hotspots  Prepare kit for counters e.g. torch and mobile phone, alarms and reflective jackets/armbands if using, face coverings, and hand sanitiser  Produce packs for counters: map, pens, definition of rough sleeping, H&S checklist, Rough Sleeping Count Forms, ID letter, any relevant local services info, language chart, data protection statement

Count-based estimate

Week of the count

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 Assign counting teams – Use smaller counting teams (2-3 people) in order to follow social distancing.  Assign the Verifier to the team that will return first  At least one mobile team to respond to issues arising during the count e.g. to take a rough sleeper to assessment/shelter  Assign at least one person to remain at the count base (usually the Coordinator) to respond to queries and check in with teams.  Ensure all counters are familiar with the social distancing and self isolation guidance prior to the count. Individuals should not attend the count if they display any COVID-19 symptoms.

Count-based estimate

Night of the count

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 Check availability of emergency accommodation/assessment hubs  Talk with the Verifier to run through plan for the night – rather than this person this will be more suitable over the phone due to COVID-19  Ensure each counting team has a pack, torch and mobile phone  Deliver the health & safety briefing for Counters and introduce the Verifier The safety briefing is crucial: take your time, answer questions  Discuss any COVID-19 related adjustments with everyone involved in the count and ensure that COVID-19 risk management actions are explained  Agree check-in times with teams during the count

Count-based estimate

Night of the count

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 Each returning team shows their Count Form to the Verifier before you collect it  Agree demographic data (including unknowns) and a final figure with the Verifier once all teams have returned#  Check that everyone has a safe route home  Verifier sends the Count Verification Form to Homeless Link the next working day for review, Bianca then sends it to the local authority for DELTA submission

Local Authority is responsible for submitting their data to MHCLG using the DELTA online system no later than 11th December 2020 and after they have received the reviewed verification form from verifiers@homelesslink.org.uk

Count-based estimate

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September

Evidence-based estimate

www.homeless.org.uk Let’s end homelessness together  Speak to outreach teams or other services re: risk of double counting across Local Authority boundaries. This can be managed by estimating on the same night and using an information sharing protocol  Identify local partners who will provide information towards the estimate e.g.

• utreach, day centres, housing, advice centres, health services, police and PCSOs,

park wardens, soup runs  Choose date of the ‘typical night’ for the estimate between 1st Oct - 30th Nov, avoiding things like festivals/sporting events/charity sleep-outs that might affect rough sleeping  Email Homeless Link to confirm the date of your ‘typical’ night and the date of the estimate meeting: verifiers@homelesslink.org.uk  Set up a DELTA account for submitting your data or check you have access to your account

September

www.homeless.org.uk Let’s end homelessness together  Tell local partners the date of the typical night for the estimate  Circulate Homeless Link’s Estimates Toolkit so that partner agencies understand the snapshot approach and the rough sleeping definition  Arrange an estimate meeting after the ‘typical’ night, invite partners and ask them to bring their data/intelligence

• Arrange all estimate meetings online as a precaution.
• Please ensure partner agencies are aware of this and are able to access the

relevant software for the estimate meeting to take place virtually.  Invite Homeless Link to the estimate meeting – provide the invitation link

Evidence-based estimate

October – November

www.homeless.org.uk Let’s end homelessness together  Check the weather forecast ahead of the chosen night – if there is severe weather you might need to change the date so that it is still a ‘typical night’  Collect data for the night agreed at a meeting or via password protected email  Collate the data – resolve duplicates or conflicting information by speaking to the partner agencies to assess which intelligence is more robust. Do this at the estimate meeting if possible so it’s a transparent process.  Keep partner agencies informed so they understand how you have arrived at the final figure.  Share information with neighbouring authorities to identify duplicates.

Evidence-based estimate

After the estimate

www.homeless.org.uk Let’s end homelessness together  If no Verifier attended your estimate meeting, agree a date with Homeless Link for telephone verification  Confirm your demographic data and snapshot figure with Homeless Link  Homeless Link will complete an Estimate Verification Form and send it to the Local Authority lead Local Authority is responsible for submitting their data to MHCLG using the DELTA online system no later than 11th December 2020 and after they have received the reviewed verification form from verifiers@homelesslink.org.uk

Evidence-based estimate

Follow the evidence-based estimate guide and…

Including a spotlight count

www.homeless.org.uk Let’s end homelessness together  Make contingency plans in case the count is unable to go ahead due to COVID-19  Ensure the spotlight count takes place after midnight  Smaller teams during the spotlight count would be appropriate. There should also be a reduced number of people at the count base, in order to follow social distancing.  There should be other sources of intelligence to inform the estimate, as well as the spotlight count  Involving independent partners in the spotlight count increases credibility, but is resource dependent. Independent partners must be part of the estimate meeting

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Count-based estimate scenario 1

www.homeless.org.uk Let’s end homelessness together A group of counters return from their patch, including members of the local

• utreach team. They have not counted

any rough sleepers on the patch. The outreach team, who are familiar with the area, expected to see one particular client at his regular site. The outreach team ask if they can go

• ut a little later to see if this particular

rough sleeper has bedded down.

• The count team could go out again to

revisit the sleep site if they are able to return before the last count group return

• Remind the counters that unless an

individual is seen bedded down they cannot be counted – refer back to the rough sleeping definition

• Has there been any pre-count activity e.g.

by police or street cleaning moving rough sleepers on or clearing sleeping sites?

• Local Authorities should consider the

timing of their count, perhaps starting later to give a better chance of counting people when bedded down (e.g. 2-4am)

Count-based estimate scenario 2

www.homeless.org.uk Let’s end homelessness together A group of counters return and report a row of tents in their patch. They have included 5 people on their form because they spoke to them a few times earlier in the week. They didn’t make contact with people in the tents during the count because they were worried one person might become aggressive.

• Tents cannot be counted as a proxy for

people

• Information gathered outside the count

can’t be used in place of seeing, or making contact with, people on the night

• People in tents don’t have to be seen but

they must speak to the counting team in

• rder to be included
• If the team knew that there was a safety

risk, this should have informed the choice

• f approach. An evidence-based estimate

might have been appropriate if there was clear evidence who was in the tent but it wouldn’t be safe to make contact during the night.

Count-based estimate scenario 3

www.homeless.org.uk Let’s end homelessness together All count teams are back at the base and forms have been reviewed. One of the counters goes home, and calls shortly after to say they have seen 2 more people bedded down who weren’t there earlier during the count.

• The count has to have a finish time
• The extra 2 people can’t be included as

the count has ended

• The people might already have been

included in the count at a different site

• It may be that the count started too early if

people were not yet bedded down

Count-based estimate scenario 4

www.homeless.org.uk Let’s end homelessness together Count team finds someone who is covered up and doesn’t wake in response to them. The person is breathing regularly. They can’t work out gender, age

• r nationality.
• There is no requirement to wake people
• Safety comes first
• Respect people’s need to rest!
• It’s completely fine to record the person

with demographics as ‘not known’

• Ideally, an outreach team will look for

them again next day to offer support

• They could ask Police to wake the person

if necessary and if there are safety concerns

Count-based estimate scenario 5

www.homeless.org.uk Let’s end homelessness together On the “typical night” SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Protocol) is active and provision is available for all rough sleepers to come in off the streets.

• The count should be cancelled or
• rearranged. It could be unsafe to send

count teams out in severe weather. It is no longer a typical night.

• If the count takes place, the count figure

can be used as intelligence for an evidence-based estimate. An estimate figure can be submitted for those counted and those accessing the SWEP provision

• Conducting counts and estimate earlier on

in the counts and estimates period might reduce risk of SWEP being active – e.g. during October

Count-based estimate scenario 6

www.homeless.org.uk Let’s end homelessness together Counters have decided to visit areas before midnight, and before the start of the count, as part of a ‘pre-count’ to see who is out. Some individuals were found rough sleeping during this ‘pre-count’ and were offered emergency accommodation and they accepted this

• ffer.
• Counts should not start before midnight

and anybody seen before this time would not be counted

• Pre-count activity creates a risk of

disruption

• Any individuals accommodated during the

‘pre-count’ may be required to be included in your final figure as they would have been counted if found later that night

• If outreach teams usually contact

individuals during earlier evening ‘pre- counts’ because they are not visible at night, for example, then an evidence- based estimate, including a spotlight count would be appropriate

Evidence-based estimate scenario 1

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A homelessness service attends the estimate meeting with a list of individuals known to rough sleep and are accessing their services. Some of the individuals identified have not disclosed their sleeping sites.

• What circumstantial evidence is there that

someone is rough sleeping (habits, luggage)?

• Promote StreetLink before the ‘typical’ night

and look at referrals to identify rough sleeping hotspots

• Engage local agencies, services and

businesses to find out about rough sleeping hot spots which can be considered alongside voluntary sector intelligence during the estimate meeting

• People have good reasons for sleeping in

hidden locations

Evidence-based estimate scenario 2

www.homeless.org.uk Let’s end homelessness together A individual identified during the estimate meeting is found to hold a current tenancy.

• Look at what evidence there is to suggest that

the individual was rough sleeping rather than in their property on the night of the estimate. Were seen bedded down? Were they with known associates/friends?

• If the individual was seen bedded down on the

night of the estimate they should be included in the final estimate figure.

• Check the definition of rough sleeping and

take into account the time they were seen as they might be involved in street activity but not sleeping rough

www.homeless.org.uk Let’s end homelessness together A homelessness organisation presents a large list of individuals at the estimate meeting without robust evidence that those identified are currently rough sleeping. What evidence can be used to establish if they were sleeping rough on the typical night chosen?

• Clarify in advance with partners what

information is needed so the estimate meeting is productive

• List of hostel residents and people turned

away by hostels/shelters on that night

• Hot spot counts/visits on night of/morning after

estimate, including park wardens

• Who was in custody that night – Police or

probation intelligence

• Services ask clients for more information on

sleep sites ahead of the estimate night

• Intelligence from other support services
• Some evidence can be sourced following the

estimate meeting

Evidence-based estimate scenario 3

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• Publish Guidance

Sept

• Q&A Sessions (Zoom)

Sept

• Phone & email support

Sept - Dec

• Webinars

Sept

• Confirm approach & date

Sept - Oct

• Verify in person or by phone

Oct - Dec

• Certify on DELTA

Nov - Dec Homeless Link’s role

Homeless Link’s role:

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Guidance & support

www.homeless.org.uk/our- work/resources/rough-sleeping-estimates verifiers@homelesslink.org.uk

Upcoming online events

Webinar: 2020 Update This will cover any COVID-19 related adjustments and other updates www.homeless.org.uk/webinar-estimates-2020-update Thursday, 24 September 2020 Online | 3.00 – 4.00pm

September Q&A Sessions Drop-in Q&A sessions for support and information about Rough Sleeping Estimates www.homeless.org.uk/rough-sleeping-counts-estimates-sept-qa- sessions Various dates throughout September

Rough Sleeping Estimates 2020

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Completing your snapshot

Thank you for listening Contact Bianca: verifiers@homelesslink.org.uk