Tackling and preventing homelessness

The effective prevention of homelessness remains at the heart of the Government's work. Sustainable Communities: settled homes; changing lives sets out the role prevention can play to meet the Government's aim of halving the number of households living in temporary accommodation to 50,500 by 2010.

During 2008/09 there were 53,430 acceptances, over 60 per cent lower than the total during the peak in 2003/04. The number of households in temporary accommodation has fallen and is now over a third lower than during 2004.

These successes have been achieved through significant Government investment in services to prevent homelessness and by working closely with local authorities and voluntary sector agencies. The Government's annual funding for local authority homelessness grants has increased by 23 per cent from £60m in 2005-06 to £74m in 2007-08, bringing the total investment in prevention to £200m over three years. On 5 December 2007, we announced that local authorities will receive at least £150m over the coming three financial years to help them prevent and tackle homelessness in their areas. They will receive almost £50m in homelessness grants next year - a £3m increase on last year and a rise of six per cent. A further £20m was announced by the Chancellor in the Budget to help families at risk of homelessness through repossession or eviction for 2009/10.

Examples of prevention initiatives undertaken by local authorities include:

the provision of rent deposits to help people obtain tenancies in the private rented sector
mediation services to help resolve family tensions in the home which might otherwise lead to a member of the family leaving home

Local authorities also provide support to help people with difficulties such as managing debts or overcoming other personal problems such as alcohol or drug misuse.

Preventing and tackling homelessness amongst young people is another key strand of the Government's work. This includes a commitment that by 2010, no 16 or 17 year old should be placed in bed and breakfast accommodation under the homelessness legislation (except in an emergency) and then for no longer than six weeks. Current statistics (end March 2009) show there were 340 households headed by 16 and 17 year olds living in Bed and Breakfast accommodation, a reduction since 2006.

Communities and Local Government is working with other Government Departments to ensure services are targeted at the most vulnerable groups to prevent homelessness and improve access to services and opportunities.