Homelessness: April 2018 to March 2019

Main points (a)

Households threatened with homelessness (b)

• The number of households threatened with homelessness increased by 18% in 2018-19 to 10,737. This is the highest annual number since the introduction of the current legislation in April 2015.
• Homelessness was successfully prevented for at least 6 months in 68% of cases, up from 66% last year.

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

• The number of homeless households owed a duty to help secure accommodation increased by 4% since 2017-18 to 11,715. This is the highest number since the introduction of the current legislation in April 2015.
• Of these, 41% were successfully helped to find accommodation during the year. This was the same percentage as the previous 2 years despite the increasing numbers assessed as homeless.

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

• Households that were eligible, unintentionally homeless and in priority need increased by 18% to 2,631. Despite this increase, 80% (2,091 households) accepted an offer of settled suitable accommodation. This is higher than the 78% rate during 2017-18.

Households in temporary accommodation

• The number of households in temporary accommodation at 31 March 2019 was up 8% on last year to 2,226 households. This was the highest recorded since the current legislation was introduced in April 2015.
• The private rented sector continued to be the main type of accommodation used at 37%.
• There were 294 households (13%) in temporary bed and breakfast (B&B) accommodation. This was higher than in both the previous two years.
• Of these, 13% (36 households) were families with children, which is the same percentage that was recorded a year earlier.

Notes

(a) The data may be subject to quarterly fluctuations and seasonal factors such as holidays and weather. These statistics are not seasonally adjusted.

(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.