Figures Show Rise In Number Of People Sleeping On The Streets Of London
July 2, 2021, 4:38 am

Figures Show Rise In Number Of People Sleeping On The Streets Of London

Trafalgar Square in London

According to RT, rough sleeping has risen in London over the past year, new figures show, despite the government promising to house everyone during the pandemic, and allocating over £700 million to support current and potential rough sleepers.

Data released by the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) shows that 11,018 people were seen rough sleeping in the Greater London area between April 2020 and March 2021 – a 3% increase on the previous year.

The number of people sleeping on the streets for the first time has risen by 7%, with first-timers now making up 68% of the overall number of rough sleepers, many having lost accommodation as a result of hardship prompted by pandemic restrictions. The report goes on to reveal that this year’s total is almost twice that of 10 years ago, when 5,678 people were seen rough sleeping.

In March last year, at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the government announced the Everyone In initiative, asking local authorities in England to “help make sure we get everyone in”, including those who would not normally be entitled to assistance under homelessness legislation.

A rough-sleeping taskforce was set up, with local authorities across the country seeking to ensure that people sleeping rough and in accommodation unsuitable for self-isolation, such as shelters and assessment centres, were “safely accommodated to protect them, and the wider public, from the risks of Covid-19”. Local authorities block-booked hotel rooms and other en-suite accommodation, and provided food and medical care. According to the government, a total of over £700 million ring-fenced funding has been allocated in 2020/21 “to support rough sleepers and those at risk of rough sleeping”.

RT reported that in April last year over 90% of rough sleepers in England had been offered accommodation as a result.

The report by CHAIN puts the number of rough sleepers in Greater London between April 2019 and March 2020 at more than 10,700. It explains that people are registered as rough sleepers if they have been encountered by an outreach worker while bedded down on the street or in another open space or location not designed for habitation. The official count published on the UK Parliament’s website records the much lower number of 4,266 in England in the immediately preceding period of autumn 2019, however.

Campaigners for the protection of the homeless praised the steps taken by the government at the beginning of the pandemic, but pointed out that they weren’t sufficient. Jon Sparkes, the CEO of Crisis, the campaign to end homelessness, told the media the measures were “brilliant but short-lived”, and called for “long-term solutions” to “end rough sleeping for good”.

At the end of last year, the government promised more funding in 2021/22 to support the delivery of long-term accommodation for rough sleepers in England.

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Source: RT

Image source: Reuters-RT

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.