Figures show drop in Welsh homelessness

Households accepted as homeless went down to 1,337 from April to June this year – 15 per cent less that the same period last year – according to data published by the Welsh Assembly Government.

The deputy minister for housing, Jocelyn Davies, said: ‘It’s very encouraging that homelessness figures are continuing to fall. This reflects the success of our homelessness prevention policies.

‘I hope that the number of people considered to be homeless will continue to fall. I am determined that this government will do everything it can to keep homelessness at a minimum during the recession.’

The number of households in temporary accommodation fell by 4 per cent over the same period to 2,749.

Figures for families in bed and breakfast accommodation also fell, accounting for 5 per cent of households by the end of June which compares with 13 per cent at the end of June 2008.

Ms Davies said the Welsh mortgage rescue scheme, introduced in June last year, had helped 78 households buy homes by the end of August and a further 87 properties had been approved. 

John Puzey, director of Shelter Cymru, said: ‘Councils and their partners are continuing to do some good work to tackle homelessness in Wales.’

But he added: ‘It is important to remember that these figures don’t give the full picture of homelessness in Wales. Many people approaching their council are dealt with through other channels, do not make a presentation and aren’t counted as “homeless”.’

He said Shelter advisers had seen a 23 per cent increase in their casework since 2007 ‘which suggests there is a much bigger problem that is not being picked up in the official statistics’.

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