We hear conflicting headlines about homelessness - on the one hand the government claims that it is at a historic low whilst homelessness charities point to the historic high numbers of homeless families being re-housed in temporary accommodation by local authorities.
The most extreme of homelessness, rough sleeping, is at a historic low - the latest government figures show that there are less than 500 people sleeping rough on any night in England and Wales. This is down from over 1,600 people in 2000. Most people would however agree that having a home is more than simply having a bed for the night - its about having somewhere permanent to call your own in a community where you can put down roots.
Anyone who is homeless or threatened with homelessness can apply to their local council for re-housing under the homelessness legislation – however, applicants are unlikely to be accepted unless they fall into one of the priority need categories specified in the legislation and are found to be unintentionally homeless – that is, they have not deliberately brought the situation on themselves – and have a local connection to the area. Interpretation of the intentionality and local connection is up to the local authorities – evidence from the Housing Justice CHAS network of housing advice centres suggests significant variance between local authorities.
The latest Welsh Assembly Government figures show that in the year 2006-2007 15,115 families applied to their local council for re-housing. Forty two percent of those that applied –6,802 families– were accepted for rehousing by their local authority under the terms of the homelessness legislation, ie they were in priority need and unintentionally homeless.
Homelessness legislation
Homelessness in England and Wales is governed by the 1977 Housing (Homeless Persons) Act and the 2002 Homelessness Act. In Wales, the Homeless Persons (Priority Need) order of 2001 introduced new priority need categories largely in line with the 2002 Homelessness Act. The 1977 Act gave local authorities the legal duty to re-house homeless people if they fall into one of four priority need categories:
* Pregnant women.
* People with dependent children.
* People who are vulnerable due to old age, mental illness or physical or mental disability.
* People made homelessness as a result of an emergency such as a flood or fire.
The 2002 Act added five further categories of priority need:
* People aged 16 or 17.
* People under 21 who have been in local authority care.
* People over 21 who are vulnerable as a result of having been in local authority care.
* People who are vulnerable due to an institutional background such as having served in the armed forces or having spent time in prison.
* People fleeing violence or the threat of violence.
Priority need is automatic under the first two categories of the 2002 Act but vulnerability must be proved for the remaining three categories.
As well as proving that they fall into one of the priority groups to be eligible for re-housing people must prove that they are non intentionally homeless – ie have not deliberately brought the situation on themselves
‘Hidden’ homeless
Many homeless people do not approach their local authority for help because they know they do not fall into one of the priority need categories and so are unlikely to be re-housed. The charity Crisis estimates that there are up to 400,000 hidden homeless people in England – these are single people who live in crowded accommodation, squats and hostels as well as those sleeping on friends’ floors and sofas. People in this group do not show up in official figures.
Who is homeless?
Government figures show that of those accepted in 2005-2006 for rehousing by local authorities…
- 3,747 households (48% of the total) were families with children or where the mother was pregnant
- 1,048 (13%) were vulnerable as a result of domestic violence
- 851 (11%) were young people aged 16 and 17 and care leavers under 21
- 761 (10%) were former prisoners with no accommodation to return to
- 468 (6%) were classed as vulnerable due to mental illness
- 324 (4%) were vulnerable due to physical disability
- 226 (3%) were vulnerable due to old age
- And the remaining 5% were vulnerable due to reasons such as time spent in care, in custody, in the forces and from fleeing violence other than domestic violence.
The proportions for each category of priority need have not changed substantially over the last five years.
Where are people homeless?
Homelessness happens all across Wales and whilst the greatest numbers of homeless people are in the large cities such as Swansea and Cardiff councils in rural areas such as Pembrokeshire Carmarthenshire and Caerphilly also report higher than average numbers of homeless people.
Reasons for homelessness
The Welsh Assembly Government figures show that the three main factors that cause people to be homeless are
• Relatives or friends no longer being willing or able to provide accommodation (30% of homeless people)
• The end of a tenancy, loss of rented accommodation or mortgage arrears (26% of homeless people).
• Breakdown of relationship with partner (23% of homeless people, 15% of homeless people have suffered from domestic violence)
These results vary little from council to council. Policies focussed on the prevention of homelessness must tackle these problems.