§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many units of accommodation in small hostels through registered housing associations have been offered to date under the hostels initiative by the Housing Corporation; what is the number approved in each housing corporation region; and how many of these hostel places are intended to provide accommodation for single homeless people.
§ Mr. StanleySince the beginning of the Government's hostels initiative on 1 April 1981 and up to 26 May 1982 the Housing Corporation has approved the provision of 2,017 bed spaces in hostels accommodating up to 30 residents.
Although hostels cater for a variety of client groups, most of the bed spaces provided under the initiative will be for people living singly who would otherwise be homeless or living in very unsatisfactory conditions. Those approved in each region to date under the initiative by the Housing Corporation are as follows:
Region Approvals Merseyside 128 North-West 159 North-East 195 West Midlands 233 East Midlands 102 West 304 London Home Counties North 516 London Home Counties South 380 TOTAL FOR ENGLAND 2,017