Homelessness: October to December 2019

Main points (a)

Quarterly data is sometimes revised at the end of the financial year and therefore the data should be treated with caution.

Households threatened with homelessness (b)

2,481 households were threatened with homelessness within 56 days. This figure is higher than the previous quarter but lower than the same quarter in 2018.

Homelessness was successfully prevented for at least 6 months in 67% of cases. The quarterly prevention rates have fluctuated within the 65% to 70% range since April 2017.

Homelessness households owed a duty to help secure accommodation (c)

3,231 households were homeless and owed a duty to help secure accommodation. This is an 11% increase on the last quarter and the highest total reported since records began in April 2015.

Of these, 43% were successfully helped to find accommodation. The quarterly success rates have fluctuated within the 39% to 43% range since April 2017.

Homelessness households that were unintentionally homeless and in priority need (d)

738 homeless households were unintentionally homeless and in priority need.

80% accepted an offer of settled suitable accommodation. The quarterly rates have fluctuated within the 74% to 82% range since April 2017.

Households in temporary accommodation

2,262 households were in temporary accommodation on 31 December 2019. Although a slight decrease on the previous quarter, this is the second highest figure reported since the introduction of the new legislation in 2015.  The private rented sector continued to be the main form of temporary accommodation used (39%).

366 households were in bed and breakfast accommodation. Again this is a slight decrease on the previous quarter but marks the second highest figure reported since April 2015.  Of these 366 households, 48 were families with children, down from 63 at the end of September 2019.

Notes

(a) The data may be subject to quarterly fluctuations and seasonal factors such as holidays and weather. These statistics are not seasonally adjusted. Quarterly data is sometimes revised at the end of the financial year and therefore the data should be treated with caution.

(b) 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.

(c) 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.

(d) 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.

Additional information is available within the accompanying Quality Report.