§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many(a) homeless and (b) other people living rough there are in Northern Ireland. [171798]
§ Mr. SpellarThe exact number of people "living rough" is unknown. However, a survey early this year estimated that between 20 and 30 people who frequently use Housing Executive funded Outreach services could be regarded as "living rough". The survey did not, however, attempt to determine whether they were statutorily homeless or not. This is a very small percentage compared the number of households on the Housing Executive's waiting list registered as homeless which at 31 March 2004 stood at 5,287.