We have long recognised that the most visible form of homelessness is that of people sleeping on the streets. In 1998, the then Prime Minister set a target that by 2002 the number of rough sleepers should be reduced by at least two thirds. The target was met ahead of time and is being sustained.
Clearly there is more to be done to help those in need and to drive down rough sleeping numbers to as close to zero as possible. Therefore, we intend to publish a Rough Sleeping Strategy later this year which builds on our success and looks at what we need to do in the future.
In addition, we have announced £200 million funding for local authorities and the voluntary sector over the next three years to help prevent homelessness and tackle rough sleeping. This is the biggest ever cash injection for homelessness services, with some £90 million allocated to London alone. We have also funded 258 projects through the £170 million Places of Change programme and its predecessor, 82 of them in London.