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WQ.500/2019
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR CHILDREN AND HOUSING BY DEPUTY R.J. WARD OF ST. HELIER
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 12th NOVEMBER 2019
Question
Will the Minister state –
- what the figures are for those sleeping rough in Jersey in 2019;
- which Government departments and agencies monitor the health and wellbeing of these individuals and how; and
- how many people who have died in 2019 were recorded as being rough sleepers at the time of their death?
Answer
- Information is not available on the number of people who have been sleeping rough in Jersey during 2019.
As part of the homelessness review, a survey was undertaken with the Shelter Trust and Sanctuary Trust on 16th August 2019 to provide a snapshot of the number of people who were residing in their properties at a given time. The survey showed that 117 people required temporary accommodation on that date. While the figure does not indicate the level of rough sleeping in Jersey, it does provide an overview of the number of people who are homeless or living in vulnerable housing situations.
- Government agencies who support rough sleepers (and people who would be classed as homeless) include Adult Social Services, the Drug and Alcohol Service and Community Mental Health. There is also a safeguarding unit in Customer and Local Services that assists people who are homeless or living in vulnerable housing situations and who require support.
In addition, the Government works in partnership with the Shelter Trust (as well as other charitable organisations) to provide accommodation and support to people who are homeless, and funding is provided to support the service provided by the Trust.
- Information is not available on the number of people who were recorded as sleeping rough in Jersey at the time of their death during 2019.
The need for an effective evidence-base to understand the extent and nature of homelessness in Jersey has been identified as a priority as part of the homelessness review and strategy. Some third sector organisations are collecting information on the number of homeless persons in the island, but there is not a standardised dataset to provide a consistent picture on the issue.
The need to improve the way that data on homelessness is collected and analysed is likely to feature as a recommendation in the homelessness strategy, which will be published in early 2020. The data will help to inform policy development and help address gaps in accommodation and support provision.