The service saw 103 individuals in April (92 in April 2009), a continued increase in client numbers – a 12% uplift in this month compared to the same month in 2009, of which 42% were new to the service.

22% of all clients were female in this month; again, numbers are skewed in favour of clients from outside the borough – 31% of whom were female compared to just 11% within the borough. This means that proportionately there are fewer male clients coming to the centre from outside the borough at 69% (89%) in Southwark.

African clients dominate with 38% of all clients in this group. European clients follow at 34% and 17% of all clients come from a White British background. Again, we see a variation when we compare our home borough to clients who come from outside – in Southwark, 39% of clients are European, 27% are White British and 23% are of African ethnicity. The picture outside the borough shows an overwhelming bias in terms of African clients who now contribute almost half of all clients seen – 49%, followed by 31% from European backgrounds and just 10% who are White British. Besides Eritrean clients who remain the largest group of African clients at 15, Ethiopian clients are now becoming a substantial group contributing 13 in this month.

26% of all clients came from A10 countries in this month, followed by 24% who have ILR/refugee status and 19% who are British citizens.

Overall, 45% of clients were sleeping out, 11% were settled, 17% were roofless and 27% were in other forms of accommodation. We are continuing to see a fairly large number coming from a variety of accommodation even though all the winter shelters are closed but we are now working with people who are placed in two permanent shelters and in the Dellow Night-stop where a number of clients from Hackney Winter Shelter were decanted.

The service saw 27 new housing clients in this month and continued to work with 14 clients who had approached the service in previous months. Of these clients, 29 were from outside of Southwark. Of the new clients, we were able to work with 18 (6 had no live benefits or ID and 3 had no recourse) There were also 2 clients already in accommodation – one of whom is wanting a transfer and one person who was already in a Salvation Army Hostel outside the borough. We placed 28% in this month but 2 clients either refused a property or failed to keep an appointment, 2 are on waiting lists and 2 have housing appointments but not in this month. Of the 14 clients we are working with from previous months, we have placed 4 (29%). Four have refused offers of accommodation or will not accept any option other than social housing and four have been non-contactable despite phone calls to their mobiles where that has been possible.