Clash over targets to reduce rough sleeping in Reading

Recently, a question was raised over whether Reading Borough Council is hitting its targets to reduce rough sleeping in the town.

Councillor Rob White (Green, Park), the leader of the opposition, asked how the council was meeting its own targets for tackling homelessness.

He cited rough sleeper head counts, which increased from 19 people in 2020 to 22 people in 2021.

Cllr White stated that there is a target to reduce those sleeping rough to 15 or fewer this year.

But Ellie Emberson, the lead councillor for housing replied that Reading Borough Council does not have such a target.

However, on inspection of the council’s ‘rough sleeping strategy 2019-2024’ webpage, there is a stated target of reducing the number of people sleeping rough to 15 people or fewer.

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Cllr White has called on cllr Emberson (Labour, Coley) to apologise.

He said: “I hope following her misjudged comments lead cllr Emberson has had a chance to look at the council’s rough sleeping strategy.

“This strategy has the key objective of reducing rough sleeping by half, to 15 individuals or fewer by 2022. I look forward to her apology for incorrectly denying that such a target exists.

“Behind these numbers are real people, our constituents, with many needs. As the second largest party in Reading, Greens will keep working hard all year round and standing up for all Reading residents.”

In response, cllr Emberson argued that targets cllr White mentioned were based on outdated government strategy.

She said: “The 2019-2024 Rough Sleeping Strategy was based upon former Government strategy, and successive failures of Government policy have resulted in nowhere near the progress needed nationally.

“I have formerly discussed data and targets on rough sleeping with cllr White at length.

“Post-COVID the government’s indicators of success have shifted significantly.

“The Council welcomes the government’s move towards qualitive, journey-led assessments of success and we will review our strategy in line with the new approach.

“As has consistently been said, we know that the most effective way to reduce rough sleeping is to prevent it happening in the first place, together with establishing a holistic programme of support for those who are on the streets.

“This includes our nationally-recognised specialist housing provision on Caversham Road and partnerships with organisations across the town.”

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When answering cllr White’s question at the policy committee meeting on Wednesday, September 21, cllr Emberson said that targets for preventing homelessness are contained in the council’s Corporate Plan.

The Corporate Plan lays out goals for a dramatic reduction in rough sleepers, from 22 ‘baseline’ to eight people in 2022/23, five people in 2023/24, and two people in 2024/25.