The number of households classed as either homeless or threatened with homelessness has increased by more than 10% in England, government figures reveal.
Between January and March 2019, a total of 70,430 households were assessed as falling within this category – a 10.7% increase from 63,620 in the previous quarter (October to December 2013).
Of these, 37,690 households were deemed to be threatened with homelessness (and increase of 10.2%) and 32,740 households were assessed as actually homeless (up 11.2%).
The data, released by the Ministry of Housing on Thursday, reveals that the most frequently-given reason for becoming homeless is the individual or household no longer being accommodated by family or friends.
The second most significant reason was listed as falling under the ‘other’ bracket – which the Ministry of Housing has described as ‘overused by some local authorities’ – with the next most common cause listed as the end of a tenancy of a private rented property.
A violent relationship breakdown was listed as the third most common cause, with a non-violent relationship breakdown coming in fourth.
The data also shows that prevention duty - which aims to help stop households from becoming homeless - ended for a total of 31,930 households, a 1.5% increase on the previous quarter.
More than half were ended because the households found secure accommodation and were no longer deemed homeless or at risk, however 18.9% were ended due to the household becoming homeless and therefore being owed relief duty.
Relief duties ended for more than 32,000 households across
England - a 7.5% increase on the previous quarter. For 40% of these households, this was due to accommodation being secured for at least six months.
Meanwhile, for 11,530 households, the relief duty ended because homelessness had not been relieved within 56 days - after which they are owed ‘main’ homelessness duties. This main homelessness duty decreased by 1.4% to 7,680 households.
As of March 31, 2019, the number of households in temporary accommodation was 84,740, up 1.4% from figures recorded on the same date in 2018. Related... More Than 100,000 Families Live In One-Bedroom Flats Thousands Of Children Living In Shipping Containers, Office Blocks And B&Bs Operation Yellowhammer Report Reveals No-Deal
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