Gabby. Earlier on you suggested that people write about what they know about. I've worked with homeless and ex-homeless people in the Housing sector for the last ten years (not employed by the government I should add) so this is relatively comfortable ground.
You suggest that governments create homelessness. Well, how do they do this exactly? The three leading causes of homelessness in the UK are: relationship breakdown, eviction and persistent offending (often leading to the former two). Yes, the government plays a part in every aspect of our lives so some responsibility lies with them but by and large, homelessness is the product of poor choices made by people. (Incidentally, it is the local goverment's responsibility to house people who are found to be Homeless as per the definition of Part 7 of the Housing Act, so they do a great deal more than any charity to help them as well.)
The Government stats relating to homelessness that you refer are most likely about the number of rough sleepers rather than homeless people - there is a significant difference. People living in hostels, emergency accommodation, B&Bs, friends floors etc are also homeless but are not rough sleepers. Local governments try and monitor these numbers but they are notoriously difficult to gauge. Figures should be available on your local authorities website though.
The lack of affordability in the private rented sector at the moment is a significant cause of homelessness. Whilst on the one hand the government's HB cuts may create more homeless cases, the subsequent necessary reduction in some PS rents should also see many people come off the streets in certain areas.
Blaming government is always the easiest and laziest option. In actual fact, since Major's tories were in power, every government has performed admirably in addressing the issue of homelessness (if not some of the causes, e.g. drug policy and lack of affordable housing).
Major's government set up the Social Exclusion Unit, which made significant funding available to local authorities for the purpose of addressing all major forms of exclusion, including homelessness. Blair's government built on this rather than keeping their distance for political reasons and also introduced the Supporting People Funding stream which has meant that support available to people in emergency accommodation has improved immeasurably (and doesn't go into the hands of cowboys, as transitional housing benefit once did) and the current government has shown some recognition of the dangers to people's housing posed by some of the cuts planned.
Finally, I'm guessing yuou're only posting for a bit of a laugh. It seems somewhat unlikely that you are a journalist (unless your sub-editors are being paid extraordinay amounts). Either way, I'm on a lunch break so figured I'd contribute anyway.