The Labour MP for Tooting Constituency claimed in a question to the Prime Minister at PMQ's on Wednesday that 2,500 children will wake up homeless on Christmas Day in Wandsworth, giving the impression that all these children will be sleeping rough. Cllr Ravi Govindia CBE, Leader of Wandsworth Council responds:
"All councils in London are experiencing an increase in cases, although it is worth pointing out that the figures provided by Shelter are not people sleeping rough on the streets of Wandsworth, but essentially people residing in temporary accommodation and with a roof over their heads while a permanent home is found for them.
The figures for other comparable local authorities are below:
Newham 6,994
Lambeth 3,240
Haringay 5,489
Croydon 3,671
Lewisham 4,097
Tower Hamlets 4,290
In Wandsworth the council has approved a wide ranging package of measures, including buying and building new homes so we can ensure that people in genuine need receive help and support and can be offered permanent homes close to the areas they grew up in. We are also increasing the supply of affordable homes with 3,000 built over the past decade, another 1,700 due to be completed within the next three years and a target of 18,000 over the coming decade.”
A video of the exchange with the Prime Minister is here https://goo.gl/uvUVjq