32% of hostel residents ready to move on but can't

In its annual review of the sector, umbrella body Homeless Link has warned that 32 per cent of people are ready to move on from hostels and supported accommodation but cannot.

This is largely due to pressue on the housing market and the limited supply of rental properties.

The survey of 459 homeless agencies also found that in 2013 there were 38,534 bed spaces for single homeless people in England, 1,104 fewer than last year, a decrease of 3 per cent.

The number of accommodation projects in England for single homeless people has also dropped by 3 per cent to 1,271 compared with 2012. Since 2010 the overall number has fallen by 13 per cent.

In 2013, 38 per cent of accommodation projects saw their funding fall, while just 8 per cent saw an increase in funding. 

The main impact of funding decreases were on staff levels, with 48 per cent of projects decreasing their front line staff and 33 per cent reducing the provision of meaningful activities.

Despite this, only a minority of services reported funding cuts leading to fewer individuals being supported.

Rick Henderson, chief executive of Homeless Link, said: ‘It is encouraging that despite several years of falling funding, homelessness charities have continued to meet the high demand for help. However, the housing crisis is putting this good work at risk.

‘Many individuals are simply ending up stuck in services, unable to find a home of their own because they can’t rent or no one will rent to them.

‘Charities are committed to working with government, councils and landlords to tackle an issue which is not good for individuals and it a waste of taxpayers’ money.’