Homelessness: April 2023 to March 2024
Data on the number of households applying to local authorities for housing assistance under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 and the number of households in temporary accommodation for April 2023 to March 2024.
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In this page
Introduction
This release provides information on households applying to local authorities for housing assistance and local housing authorities’ activities under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 (UK legislation). This includes the prevention and relief of homelessness as well as the number of homeless households in temporary accommodation. In this report we refer to financial years, for example 2023-24, which covers the period of 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 unless otherwise stated.
Between 2019-20 and 2022-23, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, reduced statutory homelessness data collections took place. In 2023-24 the full collection has been reinstated.
Data on rough sleepers and the provision of temporary and long-term accommodation for homeless people who present to local authorities for housing support are also regularly published by Welsh Government. Further details are available in the quality and methodology information section.
Disclosure control has been applied to the data. All figures less than 3 have been supressed and shown as a ‘*’. All other figures are rounded independently to the nearest 3. As a result, there may be a difference between the sum of the constituent items and the total.
For a more detailed breakdown of the legislative process, please see the legislative process section.
Main points
- The number of households threatened with homelessness (Section 66) in 2023-24 was 8,772, a 5% decrease on 2022-23 (9,246). Homelessness was successfully prevented for at least 6 months in 58% of cases, similar to the 59% in the previous year.
- The number of households assessed as homeless and owed a duty to help secure accommodation (Section 73) increased by 8% on the previous year to 13,539, the highest figure since the legislation began.
- Of these, 26% were successfully helped to secure accommodation, which is slightly lower than recent years.
- 6,135 households were identified as unintentionally homeless and in priority need (Section 75), an increase of 20% on the previous year. This figure has increased each year since the legislation was introduced in 2015. Of these 6,135 households, 70% accepted an offer of settled suitable accommodation.
- The number of households in temporary accommodation, as at 31 March 2024, was up 18% on the previous year to 6,447 households. This is the highest figure reported since the legislation was introduced in April 2015.
- Bed & Breakfasts accounted for the greatest proportion of households in temporary accommodation (42%), slightly higher than the previous year (40%).
Figure 1: Households threatened with homelessness (Section 66), owed a duty to help secure accommodation (Section 73) and in priority need (Section 75), 2015-16 to 2023-24
Description of Figure 1: A line graph showing that the number of households assessed under 3 sections of the Housing Wales Act 2014 (Sections 66, 73 and 75) show an increase in assessment outcomes under Section 73 and 75 and a slight decrease in assessments under Section 66 in 2023-24.
Source: Statutory homelessness data collection from local authorities
Homelessness prevention
In its broadest terms, ‘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. Prevention work can also be undertaken before meeting the statutory definition, but would not then be recorded against Section 66 prevention outcomes.
Under the current legislation (introduced from 2015), the outcome of a duty is recorded at each stage following the Section 62 (application for assistance with housing) assessment.
It is possible for up to 3 different outcomes to be recorded for each individual household.
The assessment process will not always result in a household being found to be eligible for assistance nor will it always result in a household being found to be either threatened with homelessness within 56 days or homeless.
During 2023-24 following a Section 62 assessment, 432 households were assessed as ineligible, and a further 4,959 cases the household was assessed as being neither homeless nor threatened with homelessness.
Between April 2023 and March 2024, a total of 8,772 households in Wales were found to be eligible and assessed as being threatened with homelessness within 56 days. This is 5% less than the 9,246 households recorded during 2022-23.
Figure 2: Outcomes of households threatened with homelessness (Section 66), April 2023 to March 2024 [Note 1]
Description of Figure 2: A bar chart showing that successful prevention was the most common outcome during 2023-24 for eligible households threatened with homelessness (Section 66), followed by unsuccessful prevention.
Source: Statutory homelessness data collection from local authorities
Households for which assistance has been provided by outcome and household type (StatsWales)
[Note 1] 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.
During 2023-24, homelessness was successfully prevented for at least 6 months in 58% of cases (5,079 households), similar to the level seen in 2022-23. This is the second time since this data collection started in 2015-16 that the prevention rate has dropped below 60%. From 2017-18 to 2021-22 homelessness had been successfully prevented in around two thirds of cases.
In 25% of cases (2,211 households), prevention of homelessness for at least 6 months was unsuccessful. In these cases, the applying households were discharged and became statutorily homeless. Such households may be owed a duty under Section 73. This represents a decrease of 2 percentage points on the proportion of cases where prevention was unsuccessful during 2022-23.
For the remaining 1,482 households (17%) threatened with homelessness during 2023-24, the prevention duty was brought to an end. The main reason for this was the application being withdrawn (including through loss of contact) which accounted for 13% of all households assessed, slightly more than the previous year (11%).
Figures 3 and 4 below show the rate of households threatened with homelessness and the rate of those successfully prevented from homelessness at an individual local authority level.
Figure 3: Households found to be eligible and threatened with homelessness (Section 66), April 2023 to March 2024, rate per 10,000 households [Note 1]
Source: Statutory homelessness data collection from local authorities
[Note 1] Based on mid-2020 household estimates
Prevention of Homelessness by Area and Measure (Section 66) (StatsWales)
In Wales, 63.6 households in every 10,000 were found to be eligible and assessed as being threatened with homelessness in 2023-24. This is lower than the 67.1 per 10,000 seen in 2022-23.
During 2023-24, Cardiff reported the highest number of households assessed as threatened with homelessness within 56 days at 1,878 households. When, taking into account the number of households in each area, Newport reported the highest rate at 123.2 per 10,000 households. Both these figures however are lower than those seen in 2022-23.
Comparatively, Gwynedd reported both the lowest number of households assessed as threatened with homelessness (89 households) and the lowest rate at 16.1 per 10,000 households.
Figure 4: Households successfully prevented from homelessness between April 2023 to March 2024 (Section 66), rate per 10,000 households [Note 1]
Description of Figure 4: A map showing that the areas with the highest rate of households successfully prevented from homelessness per 10,000 households was in South and West Wales.
Source: Statutory homelessness data collection from local authorities
[Note 1] Based on mid-2020 household estimates
Prevention of Homelessness by Area and Measure (Section 66) (StatsWales)
The number of households for whom homelessness was successfully prevented for at least 6 months, as a rate per 10,000 households is a Well Being of Future Generations National Indicator. During 2023-24 the rate for Wales was 36.9 per 10,000 households. This is a decrease on the rate reported for 2022-23 (39.6 per 10,000 households).
During 2023-24, Cardiff recorded the highest number of households for whom homelessness was successfully prevented for at least 6 months (1,368) and the highest rate of successful prevention (87.5 per 10,000 households).
Gwynedd reported the lowest number of successful preventions (54) as well as the lowest rate (9.8 per 10,000 households).
During 2023-24, 17 of the 22 local authorities in Wales reported rates of successful prevention below the Wales average of 39.6 per 10,000 households.
Relief of homelessness
Relief of homelessness under duty to help secure accommodation (Section 73)
The Housing (Wales) Act 2014 (UK legislation) introduced a new duty for all local authorities in Wales to provide help to any person experiencing homelessness to help them secure a home. 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.
Further information is available in the homelessness code of guidance (revised 2016).
Figure 5: Outcomes of homeless households owed a duty to help to secure accommodation (Section 73), April 2023 to March 2024 [Note 1]
Description of Figure 5: A bar chart showing that unsuccessfully relieved was the most common outcome during 2023-24 for households assessed as homeless under a duty to secure accommodation (Section 73).
Source: Statutory homelessness data collection from local authorities
Households for which assistance has been provided by outcome and household type (StatsWales)
[Note 1] 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.
During 2023-24, 13,539 households were assessed as being homeless and owed a duty to help to secure accommodation (under Section 73 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014) (UK legislation). This was an increase of 8% on 2022-23. 26% (3,555) of those households assessed as homeless during 2023-24 were successfully relieved of their homelessness and helped to secure accommodation that was likely to last for 6 months following intervention by the local authority. This percentage has decreased by 4 percentage points since 2022-23.
In a further 52% of cases (7,068), homelessness was unsuccessfully relieved and the duty was ended. This was an increase compared to the 49% reported in this category during the previous year. The unsuccessful cases were reviewed to establish whether the household was eligible, unintentionally homelessness and in priority need.
For the remaining 2,916 households assessed as homeless during 2023-24, the Section 73 duty was brought to an end. The main reason reported for the Section 73 duty ending was withdrawal of the application (including withdrawn due to loss of contact) which accounted for 16% of all households assessed as homelessness, similar to the percentage seen over the previous three years.
Non co-operation was the reason given for 3% of cases.
Figure 6: Households assessed as homeless between April 2023 and March 2024, rate per 10,000 households [Note 1]
Description of Figure 6: A map showing that Mid and North West Wales had the lowest rate of households assessed as homeless per 10,000 households in Wales during 2023-24.
Source: Statutory homelessness data collection from local authorities
[Note 1] Based on mid-2020 household estimates
Relief of Homelessness by Area and Measure (Section 73) (StatsWales)
For Wales, 98.2 cases per 10,000 households were assessed as homeless in 2023-24, an increase on the rate of 91.0 cases per 10,000 households reported for 2022-23.
Cardiff reported the highest number of households assessed as homeless under Section 73 of the legislation, at 2,160 households. However, the local authority with the highest rate of households assessed as homeless was Newport (192.8 cases per 10,000 households).
Ceredigion reported the lowest number of households assessed as homeless (150) and the lowest rate (47.4 cases per 10,000 households).
Relief of homelessness for eligible households, unintentionally homeless and in priority need (Section 75)
Under Section 75 of the current legislation, where households were owed a duty under Section 73 because they were homeless and this duty has ended, the assessment is reviewed.
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. The successful relief of homelessness under Section 75 is when the local authority must secure settled suitable accommodation. This is sometimes referred to as ‘positive discharge’ of final duty.
Further information is available in the homelessness code of guidance (revised 2016).
Figure 7: Outcomes for households unintentionally homeless and in priority need (Section 75), April 2023 to March 2024 [Note 1]
Description of Figure 7: A bar chart showing that positively discharged was the most common outcome during 2023-24 for homeless households owed a duty under Section 75.
Source: Statutory homelessness data collection from local authorities
Households for which assistance has been provided by outcome and household type (StatsWales)
[Note 1] 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.
During 2023-24, a total of 6,135 households were accepted as being eligible, unintentionally homeless and in priority need and were owed a duty for accommodation to be secured (under Section 75 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 (UK legislation)). This is an increase of 20% on the 5,094 households recorded during 2022-23, and is the highest number reported since the introduction of the current legislation in April 2015.
Households that were eligible, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, accepted an offer of settled suitable accommodation in 70% of cases (4,305 households). For the remaining 1,830 households assessed as homelessness during 2023-24, the final duty was brought to an end. ‘Assistance refused’ was given as the reason for the Section 75 duty ending in 4% of cases with ‘Application Withdrawn’ (including ‘Application Withdrawn Due to a Loss of Contact’) accounting for 11%. ‘Other Reasons’ accounted for 12%.
Cases of ‘non co-operation’ was at 4%, an increase from 3% in 2022-23.
Other outcomes
Whilst assistance is provided for all homeless households as part of the assessment process, this does not always result in accommodation being found. In 276 cases, the household was found to be homeless but not in priority need, whilst in a further 90 cases the homeless household was assessed as being eligible and in priority need but intentionally so. The data are available on the StatsWales website: Households for which assistance has been provided by outcome and household type
Positive actions taken to prevent or relieve homelessness
Actions taken
Local authorities were asked to provide information on the types of positive action taken during 2023-24 to both prevent homelessness for those assessed as threatened with homelessness within 56 days and to relieve homelessness for those assessed as homeless under Section 73. Prevention could result in the household either remaining within their existing home or moving to alternative accommodation. Where more than one action contributed to preventing a household becoming homeless local authorities were asked to only record the most significant action taken
Figure 8 shows the most significant actions taken during 2023-24 to prevent homelessness occurring and allow households to remain within their existing home.
Figure 8: Percentage of significant actions taken to successfully prevent homelessness and enable the household to remain in their existing home, April 2023 to March 2024 [Note 1] [Note 2]
Description of Figure 8: A bar chart showing that in just under 50% of cases, other specialist support (including preventing domestic abuse) was the significant action in successfully preventing homelessness and enabling the household to remain in their existing home, followed by financial payments and advice.
Source: Statutory homelessness data collection from local authorities
[Note 1] Under Section 66 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014.
[Note 2] Successfully prevented refers to the number of households for whom homelessness was successfully prevented for at least 6 months as a percentage of all households assessed as being threatened with homelessness within 56 days.
All cases where positive action succeeded in preventing/relieving homelessness (StatsWales)
During 2023-24, 1,776 (35%) of households that were successfully prevented from becoming homeless were able to remain in their existing home.
The main action taken to enable households to remain in their existing home during 2023-24 was the provision of other specialist support (including the prevention of domestic abuse). This accounted for 46% of all successful preventions.
Financial payments and advice and resolving housing issues (rent arrears and benefit problems) were both responsible for just under 20% of cases.
Negotiation/intervention for private sector accommodation was used to help a further 10% of the 1,776 households remain at home while mediation and conciliation work helped the remaining 7%.
Alternative accommodation secured to prevent and relieve homelessness
During 2023-24, 3,303 households were successfully prevented from becoming homeless due to local authority assistance in securing alternative accommodation. This represents just under two thirds (65%) of the total 5,079 cases of successful prevention during the year.
During 2023-24, in 3,555 cases the homeless household was successfully relieved of their homelessness (under Section 73) due to local authority assistance in securing alternative accommodation. This represents 26% of the total 13,539 households assessed as homeless during the year.
Figure 9: Percentage breakdown of alternative accommodation secured to prevent (Section 66) and relieve (Section 73) homelessness, April 2023 to March 2024 [Note 1] [Note 2]
Description of Figure 9: A bar chart showing that social housing was the main accommodation secured to both prevent and relieve homelessness under Section 66 and Section 73.
Source: Statutory homelessness data collection from local authorities
[Note 1] Successfully prevented refers to the number of households for whom homelessness was successfully prevented for at least 6 months as a percentage of all households assessed as being threatened with homelessness within 56 days.
[Note 2] Successfully relieved refers to the number of households assessed as being homeless under Section 73 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 who were helped to secure accommodation that was likely to last for 6 months.
All cases where positive action succeeded in preventing/relieving homelessness (StatsWales)
During 2023-24, the main type of alternative accommodation obtained to both prevent and relieve homelessness was ‘Social Housing’ (40% and 37% respectively) , ‘Private rented accommodation’ was the second main type of accommodation used in prevention cases (36%), whilst ‘Supported accommodation’ was the next main type used to relieve homelessness (25%).
Applicant characteristics: gender, age and ethnicity
Households threatened with homelessness
Figure 10: Households successfully prevented from homelessness (Section 66) by lead applicant characteristic, April 2023 to March 2024
Description of Figure 10: Pie charts showing the breakdown of households successfully prevented from homelessness by sex, age and ethnicity of lead applicant
Source: Statutory homelessness data collection from local authorities
Households for which assistance has been provided by outcome, age and gender (StatsWales)
In 60% of cases the lead applicant was female and the majority of applicants were aged 25 and over (84%). 76% were from a white background , with ethnic minorities accounting for 11% and applicant ethnicity not known in 13% of cases.
The 2021 Census shows that 94% of usual residents in Wales identified as white, whilst 6% identified as ethnic minority/other ethnic groups.
During 2023-24 the percentage split between sex, age and ethnic background of lead applicant was similar for overall presentations and those that were successfully prevented from becoming homeless under section 66.
Households relieved of homelessness
Figure 11: Households relieved of homelessness (Section 73) by lead applicant characteristic, April 2023 to March 2024
Description of Figure 11: Pie charts showing the breakdown of households successfully relieved of homelessness by sex, age and ethnicity of lead applicant
Source: Statutory homelessness data collection from local authorities
Households for which assistance has been provided by outcome, age and gender (StatsWales)
In 54% of cases the lead applicant was female and the majority of applicants were aged 25 and over (80%). 76% were from a white background, with ethnic minorities accounting for 10% and applicant ethnicity unknown in 14% of cases.
During 2023-24 the percentage split between sex, age and ethnic background of lead applicant was similar for overall presentations and those that were successfully relieved of homelessness under section 73.
Households successfully discharged from homelessness
Figure 12: Households successfully discharged from homelessness (Section 75) by lead applicant characteristic, April 2023 to March 2024
Description of Figure 12: Pie charts showing the breakdown of households successfully discharged of homelessness by sex, age and ethnicity of lead applicant
Source: Statutory homelessness data collection from local authorities
Households for which assistance has been provided by outcome, age and gender (StatsWales)
In 54% of cases the lead applicant was female and the majority of applicants were aged 25 and over (80%). 76% were from a white background, with ethnic minorities accounting for a further 10% and 14% of applicant’s ethnicity being unknown. During 2023-24 the percentage split between age and ethnic background of lead applicant was similar for overall presentations and those that were successfully discharged from homelessness under section 75. Sex saw the inverse occur with fewer female lead applicants falling under section 75, and a lower proportion, but more being discharged.
Main reason for households being threatened with homelessness or being homelessness
This section of the release looks at the different reasons why households are either threatened with homelessness within 56 days or have become homeless. More detailed information including a breakdown by individual local authority is available on StatsWales: homelessness.
Threatened with homelessness (Section 66)
During 2023-24, the “Loss of rented or tied accommodation” was given as the main reason for households being assessed as threatened with homelessness within 56 days, accounting for 38% of all cases.
In just over a fifth (21%) of cases, the main reason was “Parent, or other relative or friends were no longer willing to accommodate”.
The “Breakdown of a relationship with a partner” was the main reason given in a further 11% of cases, with “Rent or mortgage arrears” the main reason in around 10% of cases.
Homeless (Section 73)
During 2023-24, the main reason given for homelessness in over a quarter (27%) of all cases was “Parent, or other relative or friends were no longer willing to accommodate”. “Loss of rented or tied accommodation” was given as the main reason for loss of home in a fifth (20%) of all Section 73 cases and “Breakdown of a relationship with a partner” in a further 19%.
In 11% of cases during 2023-24 the main reason recorded was “Prison leaver” and “Other (including homeless in emergency, returned from abroad, sleeping rough or in hostel)”.
Unintentionally homeless and in priority need (Section 75)
As with Section 73 cases, the most commonly recorded reason for homelessness was “Parents or other relatives or friends no longer willing to accommodate” accounting for 28% of all cases. During 2023-24, “Loss of rented or tied accommodation” accounted for 23% of all cases, with “Breakdown of relationship with partner” accounting for a further 19%.
“Prison leaver” was the main reason in 8% of cases during 2023-24, the same figure seen for “Other (including homeless in emergency, returned from abroad, sleeping rough or in hostel)”.
Households in temporary accommodation
This section of the release covers all homeless households who were in temporary accommodation at the end of March 2024. These figures do not include all households placed in temporary accommodation throughout the year. It is a snapshot and includes only those households who were in temporary accommodation at the end of the period, 31 March 2024.
This ‘no-one left out’ approach resulted in greater numbers of people being supported in temporary accommodation. In 2022, the Welsh Government introduced legislation to add an eleventh priority need category for those who are ‘street homeless’ to ensure no-one in Wales is forced to sleep rough. This ensured the continuation of the ‘no-one left out’ approach. It is likely that the differences seen in the types of provision used for temporary accommodation are a result of these changes to services.
For further information please see the ending homelessness in Wales action plan.
Figure 13: Number of homeless households in temporary accommodation as at 31 March 2024, rate per 10,000 households [Note 1]
Description of Figure 13: A map showing that, outside Cardiff and Newport, rural areas had the highest rate of homeless households in temporary accommodation per 10,000 households in Wales during 2023-24.
Source: Statutory homelessness data collection from local authorities
[Note 1] Based on mid-2020 household estimates
At 31 March 2024, there were 6,447 households placed in temporary accommodation across Wales. This is an increase of 18% on the 5,481 households in temporary accommodation at the end of March 2023. It is the highest figure recorded since the introduction of the current legislation in April 2015.
Cardiff reported the highest number of homeless households in temporary accommodation (1,041) followed by Newport (533) whilst Denbighshire reported the highest rate (81.0 cases) per 10,000 households.
The number of households in temporary accommodation increased in 17 of the 22 local authorities between 31 March 2023 and 31 March 2024. The biggest increases were seen in Cardiff (339 households), Vale of Glamorgan (147 households) and Neath Port Talbot (138 households).
Blaenau Gwent reported the lowest number of households in temporary accommodation (48) with Rhondda Cynon Taf reporting the lowest rate (13.8 cases per 10,000 households).
Figure 14: Households in temporary accommodation, as at 31 March, by type [Note 1] [Note 2] [Note 3] [Note 4]
Description of Figure 14: A bar chart showing that the number of households in temporary accommodation has increased for all categories except private sector stock between 2021-22 and 2023-24, with the largest increase being in bed and breakfasts.
Source: Statutory homelessness data collection from local authorities
Households accommodated temporarily by accommodation type and household type (StatsWales)
[Note 1] Under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014.
[Note 2] Private sector includes households placed directly with a private sector landlord, private sector accommodation.
[Note 3] Social sector stock includes local authority stock and registered social landlord stock.
[Note 4] ‘Other’ accommodation type includes homeless at home.
At 31 March 2024, temporary bed & breakfast accommodation continued as the main form of temporary accommodation used, with 2,730 households (42%). This was an increase of 543 households compared to 31 March 2023.
Compared to 31 March 2023, only private sector accommodation experienced a decrease in both the number and proportion of households placed in temporary accommodation (16% compared to 22% at 31 March 2023). All other types of accommodation saw increases.
27% of all households placed in temporary accommodation at 31 March 2024 were families with children, a decrease from the 29% of households at 31 March 2023, but much lower than the proportion seen prior to the pandemic when nearly 40% of households in temporary accommodation were families with children. Despite a decrease in proportion, the number of families with children in temporary accommodation at 31 March 2024 increased by 10% on the previous year. Of those families with children, 25% were housed within local authority stock, with a further 23% being housed in bed and breakfasts.
At 31 March 2024, RSL stock housed the greatest proportion of families with children at 65% of all households, an increase of 19 percentage points on 31 March 2023. Local authority stock and women's refuges accounted for the next highest proportions of families with children at 49% and 40% respectively.
66% of households placed into temporary accommodation at 31 March 2024 were single person households, an increase of 3 percentage points on 31 March 2023. Of those single person households, 51% were placed into bed and breakfasts, with a further 12% being placed in hostels.
Households leaving temporary accommodation - Discharge of duty under Section 75
During 2023-24 a total of 6,135 households left temporary accommodation. Most of these (55%) accepted an offer of accommodation through the allocation scheme (part VI 1996 Housing Act).
A further 11% (648 households) withdrew their application and 8% (180 households) accepted a private sector offer.
Further breakdowns are available on the StatsWales website: reasons for discharge of duty under section 75 during the year.
Total placements of single person household: 16 and 17 year olds and care leavers: 18 to 21 year olds in bed and breakfast accommodation
Since April 2016, information has been collected centrally covering the placement of 16 and 17 year olds and 18 to 21 year old care leavers in temporary bed and breakfast accommodation under either Homelessness or Social Services legislation. This information differs to the statistics shown above as they cover every placement in bed and breakfast accommodation during the year and not only those households who were in temporary bed and breakfast accommodation at the end of the year.
The information is collected in order to establish the number of placements made by local authorities into bed & breakfast accommodation to meet the immediate housing needs of all single person households aged 16 and 17, and care leavers aged 18 to 20 (up to 21st birthday).
In 2023-24, 16 and 17 year olds were placed in temporary bed & breakfast accommodation under the current Homelessness legislation on 126 occasions, and on a further 36 occasions under Children’s Social Services legislation.
Care leavers aged 18 to 21 years old were placed in temporary bed & breakfast accommodation under the current Homelessness legislation on 180 occasions. This has been rising since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The data are available on the StatsWales website: total placements in bed and breakfasts during the quarter, by length of stay and provision
Glossary
Bed and breakfast
Ethnic categories
White
- Welsh / English / Scottish / Northern Irish / British
- Irish Gypsy or Irish Traveller
- Any other white background
Mixed / multiple ethnic
- White and Black Caribbean
- White and Black African
- White and Asian
- Any other mixed / multiple ethnic background
Asian or Asian British
Black / African / Caribbean or Black British
Other ethnic group
Current property unaffordable
The category 'current property unaffordable' includes cases where a person has become homeless as a result of not being able to afford the rent or mortgage on their home and have taken action before rent or mortgage arrears are incurred and eviction or repossession notices have been issued.
Current property unsuitable
The category 'current property unsuitable' should include cases where the home is no longer physically suitable. This will include for example:
- persons returning from hospital who can no longer live in the property until it has been adapted
- environmental issues relating to the property preventing it from being occupied until work has been carried out
- overcrowding, e.g. a new born baby, returning family member, etc.
Eligibility
Housing authorities will need to satisfy themselves that applicants are eligible before providing housing assistance. The provisions on eligibility are complex and housing authorities will need to ensure that they have procedures in place to carry out appropriate checks on housing applicants. Ineligible households will include households not eligible for assistance by virtue of Schedule 2 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 (UK legislation) and the Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (Wales) Regulations 2014.
Homelessness prevention
In its broadest terms, ‘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. Prevention work can be undertaken before meeting the statutory definition, but would not be recorded against Section 66 prevention outcomes.
A case is recorded as homelessness prevention where a local authority takes positive action to provide housing assistance to someone who the authority is satisfied is threatened with homelessness within 56 days and has been notified the duty under Section 66 of the Housing (Wales) Act applies to them. A case ceases to be classed as prevention if the household has become homeless. This only applies to those owed a duty under Section 66.
For positive action to be recorded as successful, the authority must be satisfied that the intervention is likely to result in homelessness being prevented for at least 6 months and the accommodation is suitable.
Homelessness relief
Positive action to prevent homelessness cannot be taken once the authority is satisfied that someone is or has become homeless (for example, the authority has notified the person of a decision and owes a duty under Section 73). Following notification that an applicant is homeless the Authority will be under a duty to take reasonable steps to help to secure accommodation. For positive action to be recorded as successful, the authority must be satisfied that the intervention is likely to result in homelessness being relieved for at least 6 months and the accommodation is suitable.
Following notification that a household is owed a duty under Section 73 of the new legislation, it is the duty of the local authority to take reasonable steps to help that household to secure accommodation.
Under Section 75 of the new legislation (Housing (Wales) Act 2014) where households are no longer owed a duty under Section 73 (as a result of Section 74.2 or 74.3) but following review are found to fall within a priority need category and are unintentionally homeless, it is the duty of the local authority to secure suitable accommodation. The successful relief of homelessness under Section 75 is referred to as a ‘positive discharge’ and the local authority must secure suitable accommodation.
Homeless at home
Hostels/refuges
Legislation
Housing (Wales) Act 2014 (UK legislation)
The figures in this statistical release are based on Welsh local authorities’ actions under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act (Wales) 2014 which became law in Wales on 17 September 2014 and included a number of changes to homelessness legislation aimed at reducing levels of homelessness, by placing its prevention at the centre of local authority duties to help people at risk. The new legislation on homelessness was introduced on 27 April 2015 and replaced the previous legislation, Part VII of the Housing Act 1996, which had come into force in January 1997. Further information on the new homelessness legislation is available on the Welsh Government website.
Loss of rented/tied accommodation
Where the household has lost their accommodation that was rented for example if the landlord has given them notice. Tied accommodation is occupied as part of a job; if they lose their job, they will also lose the accommodation.
Priority need groups
The priority need categories are defined in Section 70 of the Housing Act 1996 and set out in the Homelessness Code of Guidance. The categories of priority need are as follows:
- a pregnant woman
- a person with whom dependent children reside
- a person who is vulnerable as a result of old age, mental illness, physical disability or other special reason
- a person who is homeless or threatened with homelessness as a result of an emergency such as flood, fire or other disaster
- a care leaver or person at particular risk of sexual or financial exploitation, 18 years or over but under the age of 21
- a 16 or 17 year old
- a person fleeing domestic abuse or threatened domestic abuse
- a person homeless after leaving the armed forces
- a former prisoner who is vulnerable as a result of having served a custodial sentence
- street homeless
Where more than one priority need category applies the one category which was most crucial in determining priority need should be recorded.
Protected characteristics
The Public Sector Equality duties under the Equality Act 2010 exist to protect people from discrimination on the basis of ‘protected characteristics. The Equality Act 2010 defines people’s protected characteristics for those using a service as:
- Disability
- Sex (gender)
- Gender reassignment (gender identity or transgender)
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sexual orientation
- Age
These ‘protected characteristics’ are used in the statutory homelessness data collection.
Self-contained accommodation
Temporary accommodation
Quality and methodology information
This release provides summary information on statutory homelessness, which does not include persons sleeping rough.
Detailed information on data quality and methodology can be found in the Homelessness quality report.
Since August 2020, a monthly homelessness collection elating to persons placed into temporary accommodation and rough sleepers has been collected from local authorities. This information replaced the weekly gathering of intelligence collected during the initial stages of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic (from April 2020).
It is important to note the following differences between this statutory data collection and our monthly publications on homelessness accommodation provision and rough sleeping, and why the data from the publications shouldn’t be compared:
- Our collections on statutory homelessness capture data on the number of households, not individuals. This data relates to homelessness as defined by the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 (UK legislation).
- The monthly information relates to the number of individuals experiencing homelessness and being supported by local authorities into emergency accommodation or suitable long-term accommodation, as well as the estimates of persons sleeping rough.
In August 2024, Welsh Government made the decision to cease the annual national rough sleeper count with immediate effect. Further details can be found in the proposals to stop the annual national rough sleeper count: summary of responses.
Legislative process
This release presents information on the outcomes following assessments made about households who apply for assistance with housing and the ending of duties by local authorities under Section 62 of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014. It is possible for a single household to have up to three separate outcomes under this process depending on the results of the duty owed under the Act. A brief outline of the assessment process is shown in the flowchart below.
Figure 15: Legislative process of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 [Note 1]
Description of Figure 15: A flowchart explaining the legislative process of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014.
Source: Welsh Government
[Note 1] ‘Other’ includes assistance refused, non co-operation and other reasons.
Data estimation
Monmouthshire were unable to provide all data items requested for 2023-24. For each item that couldn’t be provided 2022-23 data has been used as an estimate. Data for the following measures has been estimated.
- Occurrences in bed and breakfasts during the year, by length of stay and whether the provision is through Homelessness or Social Services legislation.
- Homeless households temporarily accommodated on 31 March 2024 in women’s’ refuge, households who had spent under 2 weeks in bed and breakfast and those homeless at home.
Official statistics status
All official statistics should show the standards of the Code of Practice for Statistics (UK Statistics Authority).
These are accredited official statistics. They were independently reviewed by the Office for Statistics Regulation in March 2019. They comply with the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics.
It is Welsh Government’s responsibility to maintain compliance with the standards expected of accreditation. If we become concerned about whether these statistics are still meeting the appropriate standards, we will discuss any concerns with OSR promptly. Accreditation can be cancelled or suspended at any point when the highest standards are not maintained, and reinstated when standards are restored.
Accredited official statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007.
Statement of compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics
Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to.
All of our statistics are produced and published in accordance with a number of statements and protocols to enhance trustworthiness, quality and value. These are set out in the Welsh Government’s Statement of Compliance.
These accredited official statistics (OSR) demonstrate the standards expected around trustworthiness, quality and public value in the following ways.
Trustworthiness
The data is collected directly from local authorities, from departments that are directly involved with those being assessed for homelessness and applying for temporary accommodation.
Quality
The published figures provided are compiled by professional analysts using the latest available data and applying methods using their professional judgement and analytical skillset. Statistics published by Welsh Government adhere to the Statistical Quality Management Strategy which supplements the Quality pillar of the Code of Practice for Statistics (UK Statistics Authority) and the European Statistical System principles of quality for statistical outputs.
Data for the Welsh Government Statutory Homelessness Collection is collected by Welsh Government directly from local authorities. Local authorities’ complete data collection forms based on data stored on their respective IT systems and return the completed forms to Welsh Government via its secure web data transfer system.
Validation checks are performed by Welsh Government statisticians and queries referred to local authorities where necessary. The statistical release is then drafted, signed off by senior statisticians and published in line with the statement on confidentiality and data access which is informed by the trustworthiness pillar contained in the Code of Practice for Statistics (UK Statistics Authority).
Value
The purpose of the statistical release is to provide evidence for policy development and to inform the wider public about statutory homelessness across Wales. This statistical release also supports the Welsh Government’s long-term plan for homelessness: homelessness strategy.
They will be used to obtain timely and accurate information relating to homelessness prevention and relief, to complement the monthly homelessness accommodation provision and rough sleeping headline, which will be used in informing Ministerial advice and decision making in the wider policy context.
You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards. Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk or via the OSR website.
Well-being of Future Generations Act (WFG)
The Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015 is about improving the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of Wales. The Act puts in place seven wellbeing goals for Wales. These are for a more equal, prosperous, resilient, healthier and globally responsible Wales, with cohesive communities and a vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language. Under section (10)(1) of the Act, the Welsh Ministers must (a) publish indicators (“national indicators”) that must be applied for the purpose of measuring progress towards the achievement of the wellbeing goals, and (b) lay a copy of the national indicators before Senedd Cymru. Under section 10(8) of the Well-being of Future Generations Act, where the Welsh Ministers revise the national indicators, they must as soon as reasonably practicable (a) publish the indicators as revised and (b) lay a copy of them before the Senedd. These national indicators were laid before the Senedd in 2021. The indicators laid on 14 December 2021 replace the set laid on 16 March 2016.
Information on the indicators, along with narratives for each of the wellbeing goals and associated technical information is available in the Wellbeing of Wales report.
Further information on the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.
The statistics included in this release includes one of the national indicators namely indicator 34 ‘Number of households successfully prevented from becoming homeless, per 10,000 households.
