Housing Minister Grant Shapps has overhauled the way local areas assess the number of people sleeping rough, with the aims of more accurately assessing the scale of the problem and placing councils and homeless charities centre stage in the process.
Previously, only councils in presumed hotspot areas were required to conduct official rough sleeper counts. Consequently, only 70 councils submitted information to central Government. Figures published in July showed that under this previous method, on any given night there were just 440 rough sleepers in England.
However, for the first time areas which did not physically count were asked to provide estimates this spring and when the figures from these 256 councils were included a further estimated 807 rough sleepers were found - taking the national total to 1,247 rough sleepers on any given night.
All councils across England will now provide information on rough sleeping. This move follows consultation with homelessness charities and councils and is aimed at getting a clearer picture of the scale of the problem in each area so more targeted support can be provided to some of the most vulnerable in society.
Where a council decides not to conduct an official count, they will submit a robust estimate of the number of people rough sleeping on their streets on a typical night by consulting with and gathering information from homelessness charities and agencies working in their area.
Where there is a more significant problem, this will be done by street counts with representatives of Homeless Link, the national charity for all homelessness agencies, attending counts rather than Government officials as under the old system. This will help ensure those working directly to help people off the streets can best offer their expertise and advice.
New guidance recommends that where two neighbouring authorities intend to conduct a street count, they should do so on the same night to avoid missing, or double counting, rough sleepers who move across council boundaries.
Further, the definition of a rough sleeper has been widened so that not just those that are lying down on street at that particular time are counted, but those that are sitting or standing near their bedding are also included. For the first time councils will also have to take those sleeping rough in tents into account.
New research and statistics show that whilst domestic violence is one of the major reasons families become homeless, protection measures such as safe rooms are very effective in helping these families to safely stay in their homes.
Under what are known as Sanctuary Schemes, victims of domestic violence have special security measures installed to keep families safe in their own homes in case the aggressor tries to return. Depending on the specific needs of the family at risk, this might mean creating a safe room in the house which is secured using a reinforced door which opens outwards so an intruder cannot kick-it in.
In other cases, councils and the police might install video entry systems and alarms which automatically alert the nearest police station ensuring a rapid response. These security measures combined with other essential support from specialist domestic violence service providers have proved crucial in keeping households safe.
The research by the University of York shows that Sanctuary Schemes, supported by other agencies, such as the police and local councils, have been hugely successful in helping families stay safe in their own homes. This often means families avoid the upheaval of having to leave their home and support networks and the risk of becoming homeless.
Statistics also recently released show that in 2009 there were over 5,000 cases that were prevented from becoming homeless home thanks to the protection of a Sanctuary Scheme.
As a result, new guidance has also been published to help councils, the police and other partners make sure that the Sanctuary Schemes they run best meet the needs of domestic violence victims.
The new research has been welcomed by prominent domestic violence organisations Women's Aid and AVA (Against Violence and Abuse).
The latest homelessness prevention statistics also show that over the past year councils have successfully stopped over 140,000 households and individuals from becoming homeless. Many of these have been helped to find alternative accommodation, often a privately rented home.
In other cases, families were able to stay in their current home thanks to help from their council with rent or mortgage arrears or family mediators.