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Introduction
1. This statistics release provides a routine update of homelessness statistics as well as further analyses of available data for Scotland. The format of the release has been changed to include two articles based on the individual-level HL1 data in relation to households where a member reported sleeping rough and households assessed as threatened with homelessness.
2. Section A presents the characteristics, assessments and outcomes for households where a member reported sleeping rough the night before applying for assistance. Section B provides similar analyses for those who applied for assistance because they were threatened with homelessness. These analyses mainly focus on the most recent data for 2005-06, but include some information on trends. Routine summary information on trends in applications up to end September 2006 is shown in Section C, as well as snapshot information on numbers in temporary accommodation at the end of the quarter up to 31 December 2006, including information on breaches of the Unsuitable Accommodation Order. A summary of current legislation in relation to homelessness is shown in Section D.
3. The main points are:
Rough sleeping
- In 2005-06, 7% of applicants to local authorities under the Homeless Persons legislation reported sleeping rough the night before applying for assistance. This proportion has been dropping consistently over the past four years (from 10% in 2002-03).
- The average number of applicants who reported sleeping rough the night before applying to the local authority has fallen by 26% over the past four years, from about 440 per month in 2002-03 to about 330 per month in 2005-06.
- Rough sleepers are predominantly single men aged 25-54.
- Outcomes of applications do not vary greatly between those who slept rough the night before applying and those who did not.
Households threatened with homelessness
- In 2005-06, 10% of assessments involved households who were threatened with homelessness within two months of applying for assistance, or potentially homeless.
- The number of potentially homeless households has remained relatively stable, at around 5,000 households per year since the mid 1980s against a background of significant increase in homelessness overall.
- Higher proportions of single parents, couples and families with children are assessed as potentially homeless.
- Reasons for homelessness among potentially homeless households are more likely to be because of changes in household circumstances which can be anticipated, such as possible loss of the matrimonial home or loss of a private tenancy.
- Potentially homeless households assessed as non priority are markedly more likely to return to their previous accommodation than those assessed as in priority need.
- Nearly two thirds of applicant households assessed as potentially homeless do not go on to become homeless.
Applications
- During the period April-September 2006, there were 29,973 applications to local authorities under the Homeless Persons legislation. This represents a decrease of 2% compared to previous applications during April-September 2005. The most recent data support previous indications that the increase in applications may be levelling out since 2003-04.
Households in temporary accommodation
- The latest snapshot figure for households placed in temporary accommodation by local authorities under the Homeless Persons legislation was 8,626 as at 31 December 2006. This represents an increase of 12% compared to the situation as at 31 December 2005.
- The most recent figure for households with children or pregnant women in temporary accommodation as at 31 December 2006 was 2,954, an increase of 9% over the previous year.
Implementation of the Unsuitable Accommodation Order
- The snapshot figures for 30 June, 30 September and 31 December 2006 show that
- the most recent figure for reported breaches was 49 cases as at 31 December 2006. This represents 2% of households with children or pregnant women in temporary accommodation at that point, and less than 1% of all households in temporary accommodation
- the number of local authorities with no breaches at any time point throughout the year has increased from 17 in 2005 to 20 for 2006
- the pattern of breaches has become more clustered with fewer authorities showing an increased number of breaches between 2005 and 2006 for the quarters ending 30 September (from 58 to 63) and 31 December (from 32 to 49).
Context
4. In interpreting the statistics and analyses in this bulletin it is important to bear in mind that the information is derived from councils' administration of homelessness legislation. Trends can be affected by legislative changes, changes in interpretation of legislation or guidance and by changes in local authority recording practice. Where these have been identified these are highlighted in the description of the main trends.
5. In 2001, the Scottish Parliament passed legislation which placed additional duties on councils to provide a minimum of temporary accommodation, advice and assistance to all applicants assessed as homeless. In particular, from September 2002, councils have been required to provide temporary accommodation, advice and assistance to non-priority applicants who in the past would have received advice and assistance only. This has had a noticeable impact on applications, which has been reflected in changing assessments and outcomes for homeless people.
6. The Homelessness Etc (Scotland) Act 2003 aims to ensure that by 2012 everyone assessed as being unintentionally homeless is entitled to permanent accommodation. In the homelessness statistics we would generally expect to see progress towards this commitment reflected in increasing proportions of those applicants who are homeless assessed as also in priority need, and reducing proportions assessed as non priority.
7. The Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) (Scotland) Order came into force in December 2004. This Order requires councils to ensure that households with children or pregnant women are not placed in unsuitable temporary accommodation, unless exceptional circumstances apply. The definition of unsuitable accommodation, as well as a more detailed summary of current legislation, can be found in Section D. Changes in the data collection to monitor the implementation of the Order are described in the notes in Section C.
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