This might be because the participants in the streetcounts are looking in the wrong places. It might also have something to do with the police 'moving people on' from their usual places of shelter, just before each government
'streetcount.'

It has also been suggested that the reduction in numbers of homeless people counted on the street reflects an increase of national government funding to local governments and agencies for homelessness issues. Either the council's homelessness provision is genuinely working, or else the
streetcount figures are drastically and perhaps deliberately wrong.

In a meeting with homeless people at the local day centre last week I was told by them that the real number of homeless people in Cambridge has gone up, not down.

Whatever the case, it seems there will be people dying on the streets in Cambridge this year because officials say there is no need for a winter shelter.

An independently employed consultant has recommended that there should be a nightshelter this year, in a council-owned disused library, which was used as a nightshelter in previous years.

The homeless people of Cambridge decided at a meeting yesterday that they need an emergency shelter this winter; they hope to obtain the library for this use.

Help will be useful from: squatters (for legal and practical help) people with campaigning and publicity experience, and other volunteers as required by those who will use the shelter. The shelter will hopefully be able to provide shelter for those involved in setting it up and keeping it open.

Our aim will be to have the shelter up and running by 1st December - whether by official or unofficial means.

Any ideas?
Thanks,
Hannah.