This is the seventh annual statistical release following the introduction of revised guidance on evaluating the extent of rough sleeping in September 2010.

Rough sleeping counts and estimates are single night snapshots of the number of people sleeping rough in local authority areas. Local authorities decide on the best method to use in their area, a street count or an estimate.

The release also contains information on rough sleepers in London as recorded on the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) databaseby London-based homeless charity St Mungo’s.