THE number of people estimated to be sleeping rough in Oxfordshire has nearly halved in a year, with a drive to get homeless people into accommodation contributing to the reduction.

In November, Oxfordshire’s five city and district councils undertook the annual estimates that contribute to English rough sleeping statistics released yesterday.

The councils estimated that there were 45 people experiencing rough sleeping across the county – a 46 per cent decrease from the 2019 estimate of 83 people.

While the estimates are a snapshot taken on one night, the councils believe that this reduction illustrates their success in meeting a government directive to get ‘everyone in’ at the outbreak of the pandemic.

Three quarters of people experiencing rough sleeping are in Oxford itself, where Oxford City Council estimated that the number of people sleeping rough had fallen from 62 to 26.

ALSO READ: Oxfam improves its safeguarding after sex scandal

A similar picture played out on a smaller scale across Oxfordshire.

There were 10 people experiencing rough sleeping in Cherwell, compared to 11 in 2019. But the council believes they have all been given accommodation now.

South Oxfordshire District Council and Vale of White Horse District Council also both estimated that there were fewer people experiencing rough sleeping than the year before.

South Oxfordshire estimated a decrease from four to three rough sleepers. In Vale of White Horse the council estimated that there was one person experiencing rough sleeping when in 2019 there were three.

West Oxfordshire was the only area where there was an increase in people experiencing rough sleeping, with West Oxfordshire District Council estimating that there were five rough sleepers compared to the 2019 estimate of three people.

The five councils are working with Oxfordshire County Council and the NHS to reduce rough sleeping.

A pooled budget for Oxfordshire means there will be 106 beds in supported accommodation during 2021/22.

ALSO READ: ‘Getting outside is good for the body and mind’

And a new housing-led strategy for homelessness aims to end rough sleeping from 2022 onwards.

But Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said more still needed to be done.

She said: “The huge effort made to help people off the streets shows what can be done. But the war is not won. No one should be sleeping rough during the pandemic, and we’re still a long way from zero.

“Emergency accommodation needs to be there for everyone at risk of the street, yet we know it’s not. Every week our frontline services pick up new cases of homeless people who are being point blank refused any help. Just one of the cases we’ve dealt with involved a frightened young man who was turned away no less than four times by the council in the dead of winter, because they said he wasn’t in ‘priority need’.

“Whether someone is offered a safe bed for the night instead of a cold pavement, should not be up for debate. The pandemic isn’t over, and we must continue to keep people safe. The government needs to ensure its hard work is not undone by giving councils explicit guidance to provide everyone with emergency accommodation and support.”