To read the related feature ‘Can Charity be Cruel?’ see issue 4 of Faithworks magazine.

UK homelessness statistics

Homelessness statistics often need unpacking. Agencies that work with the homeless would argue that on top of official statistics there are a huge number of ‘hidden homeless’ – people who stay with friends and family because they have nowhere else to go, for example.

According to official government reports, annual figures for 2006 show a 73 per cent reduction in rough sleepers in England since 1998 from 1,850 to 502 and reductions are being sustained. Critics of these figures would say that counts of rough sleepers only cover people who are fully asleep in a limited area, and so aren’t accurate.

The number of people who became homeless in England in the last quarter of 2006 was 18 per cent lower than the same period the previous year. According to Government figures, this continues a downward trend, which started in early 2004.

In Scotland, the number of households accepted as homeless or potentially homeless has increased by 22.8 per cent since 1997-98. Alastair Cameron of SCHA says that the reason for the rise is unclear. Since 2001, everyone registering as homeless in Scotland gets temporary accommodation while his or her case is assessed. It could be that more people are identifying themselves as homeless because they know they will get practical help.

In Wales, over 46,000 people applied to a local authority as homeless in 2005 and over 7,300 children belonged to homeless families.

In 2003/04, the total number of households claiming to be homeless in Northern Ireland increased by 4%, compared to 16% the year before. Family and relationship breakdown, and loss of tenancies in the private rented sector, are the biggest single causes of homelessness in Northern Ireland.

More information on homelessness

The department for Communities and Local Government is responsible for the Government’s initiatives on homelessness. You can find reports and statistics on their website: www.communities.gov.uk

Shelter is a national charity working to tackle homelessness. Their comprehensive websites are an excellent source of advice and information for people who are homeless and those wanting to help them. They offer advice specific to each of the four nations of the UK, which can be accessed through www.shelter.org.uk. Shelter has a free housing advice helpline open 8am - 12 midnight, seven days a week. The number is 0808 800 4444.

Homeless UK provides information on hostels and advice services for homeless people across the UK. It has dedicated websites for London, Cork, Edinburgh, Dublin and Northern Ireland which can be accessed at www.homelessuk.org

Charities mentioned in our feature

Housing Justice: www.housingjustice.org.uk
Church Action on Poverty: www.Church-poverty.org.uk
Christians Against Poverty: www.capuk.org
Mustard Tree: www.mustardtree.co.uk
The Scottish Churches Housing Association website has more details of how churches can respond to homelessness in Scotland: www.churches-housing.org

The Megabyte Scheme is operated by Housing Justice: for more information see www.housingjustice.org.uk