Addiction psychiatry can reduce homelessness – and yet it’s at risk | Letters

Without urgent government funding and an increase in the number of doctors specialising in addictions, the numbers of people sleeping on the streets will only rise, writes Dr Jenny Drife

While discussions about the accuracy of the latest government figures for numbers of rough sleepers in England and Wales will no doubt continue (Homelessness: Ministry accused of under-reporting issue, 27 February), it's important not to lose sight of the fact that even this estimate is an increase of 141% since 2010.

We need to remain focused on interventions that will prevent people ending up on the streets, or help them back into stable housing as quickly as possible.