Welsh homelessness shows annual decline
The number of households accepted as homeless in Wales was 3 per cent lower between July and September 2009 than it was during the same period in 2008.
The number of households found to be eligible, unintentionally homeless and in priority need was 1,475, down from 1,519 the previous year.
The deputy minister for housing and regeneration, Jocelyn Davies, said: ‘It’s very encouraging that the long term trend shows that homelessness figures are falling in spite of the recession.’
Housing charity Shelter Cymru welcomed what it termed a ‘relatively small drop’ but said: ‘The number of people approaching their council and those accepted as homeless are both up on the previous three quarters.’
The charity also said that the recession had led to a significant increase in demand for its services.
The proportion of households in temporary housing has continued to fall, standing at 2 per cent in September 2009 having reached a high of 3 per cent in September 2005.
Of these households, 50 per cent were in private sector accommodation, this figure having risen continuously since September 2004 when it stood at just over 15 per cent.
In the same period, the proportion of households in temporary accommodation that stayed in bed and breakfasts went from nearly 45 per cent to 10 per cent.
Among households that were found eligible for assistance, in 44 per cent of cases applications were successful because of dependent children or because the household included a pregnant woman.
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