Homelessness statistics published by ODPM

The number of people becoming homeless in England has fallen by
6 per cent from 2003-4, according to government statistics released
today by John Prescott’s office, writes Maria
Ahmed.

New homelessness cases have fallen for the fifth consecutive
time, while there has been a 23 per cent reduction over the last
year in the number of households living in bed and breakfast
accommodation, the figures published by the Office of the Deputy
Prime Minister show.

Less than six per cent of all households in temporary
accommodation, including vulnerable single people, are in bed and
breakfast hotels, compared to the historic peak of 47 per cent in
1987.

The figures, published by the Office of the Deputy Prime
Minister, also showed that 38 per cent of homeless applications
were made by people whose parents, relatives or friends were no
longer able, or willing, to accommodate them.

A further 19 per cent of homeless applicants cited a breakdown
of a relationship with a partner, with around two-thirds of these
cases involving violence. An additional 12 per cent of households
were homeless due to the end of an assured short-hold tenancy.

The ODPM is also publishing its new homelessness strategy today
to further reduce and prevent homelessness, including a target to
cut the number of households living in temporary accommodation by
half by 2010.

The strategy, ‘Sustainable Communities: settled homes,
changing lives,’ aims to take forward measures announced in
the ODPM’s five-year plan to provide more settled homes and
tackle the wider symptoms of homelessness including action on
health, employment, relationship breakdown and services for
children.

The ODPM’s strategy can be found at: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/homelessness

 

 

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