The annual rough sleeping snapshot provides information about the estimated number of people sleeping rough on a single night between 1 October and 30 November each year and some basic demographics details (age, gender, nationality). These statistics provide a way of estimating the number of people sleeping rough across England on a single night and assessing change over time.

Local authorities across England take an annual autumn snapshot of rough sleeping using either a count-based estimate of visible rough sleeping, an evidence-based estimate meeting with local partners, or an evidence-based estimate meeting including a spotlight count in specific areas. This methodology has been in place since 2010. The snapshot is collated by outreach workers, local charities and community groups and is independently verified by Homeless Link.

Our interactive dashboard allows users to explore the rough sleeping snapshot data.

Alongside this year’s snapshot statistics, we are also publishing for the first time a detailed commentary around the new management information about the support for people sleeping rough and those at risk of sleeping rough.

We welcome users of these statistics to provide feedback on any areas of improvement relating to this statistical release.

We have published additional data tables for the 2021 rough sleeping snapshot which includes unsuppressed figures at a local authority level, as we consider the risk of individual identification from releasing the information now to be low. Due to rounding, these unsuppressed figures will not exactly match the figures in the statistical release.

Published 24 February 2022
Last updated 31 March 2022 + show all updates

31 March 2022
Additional tables added
18 March 2022
Annex A: Table 4 revised.
25 February 2022
Table 3.1.1 totals revised.
24 February 2022
First published.

Rough sleeping snapshot in England: autumn 2021

Applies to England

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