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Homelessness rises 6% in a year
The number of people accepted by councils as homeless rose by 6% last year, government figures published today reveal.
Statistics released today by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) show that 14,470 households were accepted between 1 October and 31 December 2015, 6% more than the same quarter of 2014.
The figures come days after Brandon Lewis confirmed the government is considering placing a duty to prevent homelessness on councils.
Chancellor George Osborne in his Budget last week also announced £115m of funding to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping as ministers come under increasing pressure to tackle the problem.
The number of households in temporary accommodation has also increased substantially. At the end of December, there were 69,140 households in temporary accommodation, 12% higher than at the same date in 2014.
In London, the rise in homelessness was more marked, with acceptances between October and December rising by 10% to 5,160, compared to the previous year.
A total 5,110 households throughout England were living in bed and breakfast accommodation at the end of December, of which 44% were pregnant mothers or families with children.
The most common cause of homelessness was the ending of a shorthold tenancy, which accounted for 31% of all the cases.
In the Budget last week, the chancellor allocated £100m to deliver ‘second stage’ accommodation for rough sleepers leaving hostels and domestic abuse victims moving on from refuges.
Figures published in February also showed rough sleeping had soared by 30% last year. There will be a further £10m over two years to fund new ways to prevent and reduce rough sleeping, and the government is doubling its rough sleeping social impact bond from £10m to £5m.
Responding to the figures, sector figures made fresh calls for the government to impose a duty to prevent homelessness on local authorities, similar to rules that exist in Wales. Terrie Alafat, chief executive of the Chartered Insitute of Housing said: “There needs to be new legislation similar to the Welsh prevention duty which ensures that all homeless people get access to help.”
Jon Sparkes, chief executive of homelessness charity Crisis, said: “We strongly urge the government to follow through on its commitment to consider options – including legislation – to prevent more people from becoming homeless. It is essential that all homeless people can get the help they need and that councils get the necessary funding to deliver on this.”
UPDATE: at 4.28pm 23.03.16
The article has been updated to include reaction from Crisis and the CIH.
