Rough sleepers’ data 'is not shared with Home Office'

The Observer claimed charity St Mungo’s has attended meetings with the Home Office regarding accessing a homeless person’s data.

St Mungo’s operates the council’s street population outreach team.

Cabinet member for housing Linda Smith said: “Unlike some councils, we don’t require our outreach team to work with Home Office immigration enforcement teams.”

She added: "Our homelessness services will never pass on people’s personal data to the Home Office without their explicit consent.

"We do help people experiencing homelessness in Oxford return to their home countries, but we only do this and will only ever do this with their explicit permission."

Ms Smith said last winter the council used temporary funding from the Rough Sleeper Initiative to provide emergency accommodation for people from abroad who can not claim housing or benefits.

She added: "The day services we fund are open to everybody sleeping rough.

"This winter, we aim to provide winter-long emergency shelter to anyone experiencing homelessness – whatever their immigration status."

The council is transforming the former job centre in Floyds Row into a new hub for rough sleepers.

It is currently being refurbished and is expected to open later this year.