Number of homeless households continues to fall

The number of households in England accepted as homeless has continued to fall, according to figures released today.

The Department for Communities and Local Government statistics reveal 19,390 households were judged to be homeless by their local authority between July and September 2006, 22 per cent lower than the same period last year.

The number of households in temporary accommodation also fell, by 1 per cent since the previous quarter, to 93,090.

The number of households in bed and breakfast accommodation is unchanged since the previous quarter at 4,900, although the figure has fallen 20 per cent since the same period last year.

Homelessness figures have dropped steadily since 2003, with the government attributing the fall to a greater focus on homelessness prevention.