Homelessness: October to December 2018

Main points (a)

Households threatened with homelessness (b)

• 2,649 households were threatened with homelessness within 56 days. This is the second highest figure (after the previous quarter) since the introduction of this legislation.
• In over two thirds of all cases (67%), homelessness was successfully prevented. The quarterly prevention rates have fluctuated within the 65% to 69% range since April 2017.

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

• Almost 3,000 households were homeless and owed a duty to help secure accommodation. This is the highest number since the introduction of the new legislation.
• Of these, 43% were successfully helped to find accommodation during the quarter. The quarterly success rates have fluctuated within the 40% to 43% range since April 2017.

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

• 645 homeless households were unintentionally homeless and in priority need, the second highest figures since the introduction of the legislation.
• Of these, 83% accepted an offer of settled suitable accommodation. This is the highest quarterly rate since June to September 2016, though the quarterly rates are subject to fluctuation.

Households in temporary accommodation

• The number of households in temporary accommodation was the second highest to date at 2,139 households. The private rented sector continued to be the main form of temporary accommodation used (38%).
• 270 households were in bed and breakfast accommodation. This was an increase of 58% on the previous year.  Of these, 30 households were families with children compared with the 12 households 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.