Homelessness accommodation provision and rough sleeping: May 2023

Background

This monthly data collection was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It covers temporary accommodation and provision of long-term accommodation for people who present to local authorities for housing support as they are at risk of homelessness.

This data has not undergone the same level of quality assurance as official statistics and the data may be revised in future.

The figures for the latest month should be treated as provisional. Not all local authorities have been able to provide comprehensive data and this is reflected, where relevant, in the footnotes.

At various points throughout the collection, some local authorities have provided figures for households rather than individuals; this is indicated in the footnotes where applicable.

For the estimates of rough sleeping, we publish a breakdown by local authority. For data on use of accommodation, we are initially publishing data at the Wales-level only.

Planned developments

Following user feedback we are currently developing this publication which is based on management information. We are continuing to work closely with local authorities to strengthen the data collection guidance and improve data quality.

This month we have expanded the data published in the accompanying data tables 1 and 2 at a Wales level for the period April 2023 onwards:

Table 1: Number of occurrences of homeless individuals placed into temporary accommodation in the month – additionally publishing a breakdown of main reason for homelessness.

Table 2: Number of homeless individuals in temporary accommodation at the end of the month – additionally publishing a breakdown on type of temporary accommodation.

We are working towards publishing an expanded range of data, including at the local authority level, later in 2023.  Further information about additional changes will be provided in future publications.

Main points

Comparisons over time

At this stage, it is important not to put too much emphasis on data for an individual month or comparisons with previous months. This monthly collection of management information and the guidance provided is continuing to be refined and improved.

Use of temporary accommodation

• Throughout Wales, there were 1,680 occurrences of homeless people placed into temporary accommodation during the month, 304 more than in April 2023. Of these, 476 were dependent children aged under 16, 121 more than in April 2023.
• Of the placements into temporary accommodation during May 2023, most occurrences came from ‘Other’ circumstances (762 occurrences), followed by ‘Moved from other unsuitable accommodation’ (629 occurrences). ^{[footnote 1]}
• At 31 May 2023, 10,872 individuals were in temporary accommodation, 350 more than at 30 April 2023. 3,348 of these were dependent children aged under 16, 99 more than that at 30 April 2023.
• The type of accommodation temporarily housing the most individuals at the end of May 2023 was ‘bed and breakfasts and hotels’ with 3,651 individuals, of which 982 were dependent children under 16.
• Between the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and the end of May 2023, over 37,300 people who were previously homeless have been supported into emergency temporary accommodation. ^{[footnote 2]}

Homeless individuals moved into suitable long-term accommodation

• In May 2023, 660 homeless individuals were moved into suitable long-term accommodation, 11 more than in April 2023. Of the individuals moved into suitable long-term accommodation, 246 were dependent children aged under 16, 9 fewer than in April 2023.

Rough sleeping

• As at 31 May 2023, there were an estimated 154 individuals sleeping rough throughout Wales. This is 28 more than the 126 individuals sleeping rough at 30 April 2023. ^{[footnote 3]}
• As at 31 May 2023, Newport (31), Cardiff (28), Pembrokeshire (24), Bridgend (10), Ceredigion (10) and Swansea (10) were the local authorities reporting the highest numbers of individuals sleeping rough. All other local authorities reported 9, or fewer, individuals sleeping rough, with five local authorities reporting zero. ^{[footnote 3]}

Ability to compare with statutory homelessness statistics and the rough sleeper count

t is important to note the following differences between this monthly management data collection and our existing data collections and publications on statutory homelessness:

• This monthly data relates to the number of individuals experiencing homelessness and being supported by local authorities into temporary accommodation or suitable long-term accommodation.
• Our quarterly and annual collections on statutory homelessness capture data on number of households, not individuals. That data relates to homelessness as defined by the Housing (Wales) Act 2014.

In addition, we do not recommend comparisons between the rough sleeping estimates from this monthly collection and the annual rough sleeper count (up to November 2019). In this monthly collection, local authorities are asked to base their estimates on local intelligence. The annual rough sleeper count has a different methodology: a two-week information gathering exercise, followed by a one-night snapshot count.

Footnotes

[1] ‘Other’ circumstances refers to reasons other than moved off street, previously sofa surfing, moved from other unsuitable accommodation and prison leavers.

[2] This figure is calculated and not shown in the accompanying data set.

[3] Local authorities are asked to base these estimates on local intelligence, not a one-night count.