About Every quarter, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) releases statistics on the levels, types and outcomes of homelessness applications received by councils across England. This briefing looks at the latest figures.

Headlines Compared to the same quarter in 2016, the latest statistics show that between 1 July and 30 September 2017:

- The total number of households making an application remained stable at 29,340. - 52% of applicants were accepted by local authorities as owed the main homelessness duty. - 4,900 people were found not to be in priority need, representing 17% of the total statutory case load. - The number of households in temporary accommodation was 79,190, representing a 6% increase of

last year’s figure of 74,750.

Applications and Acceptances Applications Acceptances Rate of acceptance Acceptances for young people

29,340 households made a homelessness application at their local authority in July - September 2017. This figure is only slightly lower compared to the same period last year when the total number was 29,390. 15,290 households were accepted as statutory homeless. The rate of acceptance was 52% which is slightly higher than Q3 2016 when the rate was 51% (14,930 acceptances) A total of 3,300 young people (aged 16-24) were accepted as statutory homeless. This figure has remained relatively stable from Q3 2016 when the figure was 3,310.

Statutory homelessness data

July – September 2017 (Q3)

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National trends Graph 1 shows the national statutory caseload and official decisions over the past seven years during quarter

3 (July - September). In Q3 2017, a total of 29,340 households made a homelessness application at their

local authority, which is only slightly lower than the Q3 2016 figure of 29,390. In 2017, 15,290 (52%) were

accepted as statutory homeless.

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000

Q3 2010

Q3 2011

Q3 2012

Q3 2013

Q3 2014

Q3 2015

Q3 2016

Q3 2017

Q3 2010 Q3 2011 Q3 2012 Q3 2013 Q3 2014 Q3 2015 Q3 2016 Q3 2017

Acceptances 11,840 12,510 13,890 13,420 14,040 14,660 14,930 15,290

Not accepted as homeless 15,050 14,880 15,250 14,680 14,470 14,300 14,460 14,050

Graph 1: Statutory homelessness decisions Q3 2010-2017

Acceptances Not accepted as homeless

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Graph 2 shows the decisions for all households not accepted as owed a main homelessness duty during the

last seven years in Q3. Not homeless decisions remains the primary reason why applicant households are not

accepted (6,840 households).

Graph 3 shows households found to be in priority need due to vulnerability. The data shows a continuing

upward trend in the number of households found to be vulnerable through mental illness (1,550 in Q3 2017).

1820

2010

2210

2120

2220

2460

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2,320

5250

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5120

4840

4890

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Number of applicants

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Graph 2: Statutory homeless assessment decisions Q3 2010-2017

Intentionally Homeless Not in priority need Not homeless

960 950

1120 1140 1150

12901400

1550

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Graph 3: Vulnerability decisions Q3 2010-2017

Household member pregnant Household member vulnerable through: old age

Household member vulnerable through: physical disability Household member vulnerable through: mental illness

Household member vulnerable through: young person Household member vulnerable through: domestic violence

Household member vulnerable through: other

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Graph 4 shows that in Q3 2017, end of assured shorthold tenancy with a private landlord (4,220 households)

remained the primary reason why homeless applicants lost their last settled home (28% of all acceptances).

Relatives/friends being unable or unwilling to provide accommodation remains the second immediate cause

(4120 households).

18102230

2890

3510

40704600 4790

4220

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Q3 2010 Q3 2011 Q3 2012 Q3 2013 Q3 2014 Q3 2015 Q3 2016 Q3 2017

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Graph 4: Reason for loss of last settled home Q3 2010-2017

Relatives/friends no longer able or willing to provide accommodation

Relationship breakdown with partner

Mortgage arrears

Rent arrears

End of assured shorthold tenancy

Loss of other rented or tiered housing

Other reasons

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Households in temporary accommodation Graph 5 shows the number of households placed in different types of temporary accommodation in Q3 2010 -

2017. In July - September 2017, a total of 79,190 households were in temporary accommodation, representing

a 6% increase of last year’s figure of 74,750. A total of 22,530 households were placed in local authorities

other than where the original application was accepted, representing a 5% increase on last year’s figure of

21,400.

Other key figures include:

• 6,400 households were placed in Bed & Breakfasts, representing a 4% decrease from the previous

year when the figure was 6,680.

• A total of 5,480 households were placed in hostels, representing a 4% decrease from the previous year

when the figure was 5,690.

• 20,460 households were placed in nightly paid, self contained accommodation, representing a 11%

increase from the 2016 figure of 18,420.

0 20000 40000 60000 80000 100000 120000

Q3 2010

Q3 2011

Q3 2012

Q3 2013

Q3 2014

Q3 2015

Q3 2016

Q3 2017

Number of households

Graph 5: Households in temporary accommodation

Bed & Breakfast Hostels

Nightly paid, self contained accommodation Local Authority or Housing Association Housing

Private sector accommodation LA leased Other

In TA in another Local Authority district

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Prevention and relief The DCLG publishes quarterly prevention and relief statistics alongside the statutory homelessness statistics. Prevention covers positive action taken by local authorities to provide assistance to people at risk of homelessness, relief involves actions to secure accommodation for households that have already become homeless. Figures are available from 2009/10 onwards. In Q3 2017, there were 52,190 total cases of prevention and relief, down 1% from the 2016 figure of 52,880. Of the total, 48,340 (93%) were prevention and 3,850 were relief (7%)

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Q3 2010 Q3 2011 Q3 2012 Q3 2013 Q3 2014 Q3 2015 Q3 2016 Q3 2017

Graph 6: Total number of successful cases of prevention and relief Q3 2009-2017

Relief Prevention

Let’s end homelessness together Homeless Link, Minories House, 2-5 Minories, London EC3N 1BJ | 020 7840 4430 www.homeless.org.uk | Twitter: @Homelesslink | Facebook: www.facebook.com/homelesslink

© Homeless Link 2017. All rights reserved. Homeless Link is a charity no. 1089173 and a company no. 04313826.

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What we do Homeless Link is the national membership charity for organisations working directly with people who become homeless or who live with multiple and complex support needs. We work to improve services and campaign for policy change that will help end homelessness.

Let’s end homelessness together

Homeless Link Minories House, 2-5 Minories London EC3N 1BJ

020 7840 4430

www.homeless.org.uk

Twitter: @Homelesslink Facebook: www.facebook.com/homelesslink © Homeless Link 2017. All rights reserved. Homeless Link is a charity no. 1089173 and a company no. 04313826.