Homelessness: April 2019 to March 2020

The data may be subject to quarterly fluctuations and seasonal factors such as holidays and weather. These statistics are not seasonally adjusted. Additional information is available within the accompanying Quality Report.

Households threatened with homelessness

Image

• 9,993 households were threatened with homelessness, a decrease of 7% on 2018-19.
• Homelessness was successfully prevented for at least 56 days in 67% of cases.

Homelessness prevention is where a local authority takes positive action to provide housing assistance to someone who the authority considers is threatened with homelessness within 56 days.

Homeless households owed a duty to help secure accommodation

Image

• 12,399 households were assessed as homeless and owed a duty to help secure accommodation, a 6% increase on 2018-19.
• Homeless households were successfully helped to secure accommodation in 41% of cases.

Following notification that an applicant is homeless, the local authority will be under a duty (Section 73) to take reasonable steps to help to secure accommodation.

Homeless households, unintentionally homeless and in priority need

Image

• 3,060 households were identified as unintentionally homeless and in priority need, a 16% increase on 2018-19.
• Homeless households accepted an offer of settled suitable accommodation in 78% of cases.

If the household is homeless, has a priority need and is unintentionally homeless, the local authority will be under a duty to secure suitable accommodation.

Temporary accommodation

• At 31 March 2020, 2,324 households were placed in temporary accommodation, an increase of 4% on March 2019.
• At 31 March 2020, 496 households were placed in temporary B&B accommodation, an increase of 68% on March 2019.

National lockdown measures went into effect on 23 March 2020 which has affected the total of households in temporary accommodation at 31 March 2020.