What do the latest government statistics tell us about homelessness in England?

On 8 August, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) released its latest statistics on homelessness in England.

The data shows a shocking rise in children housed in temporary accommodation, with levels at the highest ever recorded.

The overall picture tells us that homelessness and rough sleeping continue to rise, with rough sleeping increasing in every region. We also learnt that people leaving asylum accommodation after a successful decision are at a particularly high risk of homelessness.

In this blog, we’ll take a deep dive into the data, and analyse what it means for both homelessness in England, and our members working to end homelessness. The statistics tell us that:

A record number of children are living in temporary accommodation.

In NHF research published last year, we estimated 150,000 children would be living in temporary accommodation by 2030. Data published this month shows this has already been exceeded, six years earlier than predicted.

As of March 2024, there are now 151,630 children in temporary accommodation, a 12% rise since March 2023. Research shows that children are negatively affected by living in temporary accommodation, with Shelter reporting detrimental effects on education, social life, physical and mental health. In 2024, shocking research from the Shared Health Foundation found that temporary accommodation had contributed to the deaths of at least 55 children since 2019.

The statistics also show that 56% of households living in temporary accommodation are in London, which equates to 65,280 households and 88,810 children. This means that 1 in 20 children in London are living in temporary accommodation.

The NHF, alongside the wider sector, is calling on the new government to help end the crisis in temporary accommodation through an ambitious long-term plan for housing. We are ready to work together with the new government to end child homelessness by 2035.

Rough sleeping increased in every region between 2022 and 2023.

Rough sleeping increased across England in 2023, with the statistics showing that 3,898 people were estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in Autumn 2023, up 27% when compared with 2022. Nearly half (46%) of the people sleeping rough in a single night were in London and the South East.

People leaving asylum accommodation after gaining refugee status are at a significantly higher risk of homelessness.

The MHCLG Ending Rough Sleeping data framework showed a significant increase in people sleeping rough after a positive decision on their asylum claim. Last year, between July and December 2023, there was a 1,116% increase in rough sleepers who had recently left asylum accommodation. This was in part due to a Home Office policy change in the notice period for evictions, leaving some people with as little as seven days to find alternative accommodation.

Leaving asylum accommodation also remains the fourth biggest reason for a local authority to accept a relief duty, where are required to help someone experiencing homelessness.

There is continued and rising pressure on local authority homelessness teams.

Data shows the demand for homelessness services has risen in recent years due to a chronic shortage of affordable homes.

Between April 2023 and March 2024, local authorities accepted 145,940 prevention duties, to help people at risk of homelessness. This was up from a low of 119,880 in 2021. Relief duties, where the council helps someone who is already homeless, were at an all-time high in the year ending March 2024, at 177,980. Main duty acceptances reached 63,420, the highest in 16 years.

This shows a rising number of people need help to keep their homes or are turning to their local authority having lost their homes, existing at the sharp end of the housing crisis. With 1.3 million households on a local authority waiting list in 2023, we need the new government to deliver on new social and affordable rented homes.

Evictions in the private rented sector are rising, whilst they are falling for socially rented homes.

The latest Ministry of Justice statistics tell us how many evictions have been made March 2023 – 24, both in the private rented sector and social rented homes. Data shows repossessions made by private landlords have risen to above pre-pandemic levels, showing that private rented homes are becoming more precarious.

Socially rented homes (including both local authority and housing association homes), by contrast, have seen falling eviction rates. Pre-pandemic less than half of claims and repossessions were made by social landlords. Now, in the year 2023-2024, it has fallen to about a quarter. Housing associations have taken action to help residents facing financial difficulties, through schemes like the Homes for Cathy commitments. You can read more about this in a useful case study by emh.

Look out for the next data release on homelessness

The next figures from MHCLG will be published in October 2024, whilst the next rough sleeping estimates are expected in early 2025.

Going forward, we’ll be analysing these datasets in our homelessness newsletter, which you can sign up to here. These figures influence our policy work with the new government and help inform our priorities for calling for change and ending the housing crisis. Read more about our work calling for a long-term plan for housing here.

If you have any questions on our homelessness data deep dive, please do not hesitate to contact the team.