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400 people 'could be sleeping rough in Manchester'

30/07/2007

There could be as many as 400 homeless people in Manchester, according to a charity based in the city.

Lifeline's figures are significantly higher than the council's government-approved study, which put the figure at seven in 2005.

The charity said that the city council had drastically underestimated the number of homeless people because counters had avoided certain areas of Manchester.

Furthermore, Lifeline said the council had only included those who were "bedded down" on public land and not those who slept in squats or derelict buildings.

Councillor Eddy Newman refuted the figures and said that its headcount was "carried out in line with methodology devised by central government and homelessness agencies".

"We would refute absolutely any claim that suggested that the numbers of people sleeping rough in the city is or could be anywhere near 400," he said.

Lifeline's figures do not include people in temporary accommodation, such as bed and breakfasts, hostels and women's refuges.



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