'The essential thing is social support'

John Bird, MBE, founder of 'The Big Issue' and president of The Big Issue Foundation Board of Trustees

"The Big Issue was started as a way to sustain and decriminalise rough sleepers. One of the problems when people put themselves in a vulnerable position is that it's very difficult to move them on again. So it's about getting them stable and helping them move on.

"But you can't rely on handouts from society or generous individuals. No one has ever been improved by handouts. Feeding homeless people on the streets isn't even a good solution in the short-term – they become just like pigeons.

"Unfortunately, a lot of people aren't aware of the strengths of the programmes offered by homeless organisations. They don't have the full picture and they don't know what is available. So they decide they'll just give a few coins to the person sitting in the street next to a cash machine. It doesn't involve actually finding out what their problems are, it doesn't involve taking them home with them, or talking to them, and it doesn't help them get off the street.

"Just giving them a few bob and passing by won't make a rough sleeper any better off than before, except they'll have a couple of quid to spend on something they want. The really important thing is social support. If people knew that round the corner there was a day centre, a night shelter or a hostel, they might think again.

"The Rough Sleepers Unit should be emphasising the help actually being delivered to rough sleepers and making people better informed. It should be raising the big questions about where provision is good and where it is bad. It should be the scourge of underperforming providers. It's got to start getting tough. That even means getting tough with The Big Issue if it has to."