HC Deb 25 October 1982 vol 29 cc330-2W
Mr. Soley

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) when the joint code of practice on homelessness is to be issued in Northern Ireland;

(2)if he will list in the Official Report the number of homeless families and single homeless in Northern Ireland in the years 1980 and 1981, by each district board;

(3) if he will list in the Official Report (a) the size, (b) the reason for admission, (c) the length of stay and (d) the destination on discharge of homeless families provided with temporary accommodation in Northern Ireland in the year 1980;

(4) if he will list in the Official Report the number of single homeless in Northern Ireland (a) by age, (b) by place from which admitted, (c) by length of stay in temporary accommodation and (d) by destination on discharge, for the year 1980.

Mr. John Patten:

It is hoped that the code prepared by the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland will be issued before 31 March 1983 following consultation with interested bodies.

The number of cases of homeless families and single homeless in Northern Ireland known to health and social services boards in the years 1980 and 1981 were as follows:

Health and Social Services Board 1980 Homeless families Single families 1981 Homeless families Single families
Northern 132 36 160 34
Southern 33 37 44 32
Eastern 174 55 * *
Western 68 14 * *
Northern Ireland totals 407 142 * *
*Data not yet available.

The following information gives(a)the size,(b)the reason for admission,(c)the length of stay and(d)the destination on discharge of homeless families given temporary accommodation during 1980.

(a) The size of homeless families

  1. (i) 102 single or unsupported mothers were provided by health and social services boards with temporary accomodation in Northern Ireland in the year 1980. Details of family size are not held centrally for this group.
  2. (ii) Details of other homeless families provided with temporary accommodation during 1980 by number of families and number of children are listed below:

Number of adults Number of children
0 1 2 3 4 5 6+
1 4 16 6 6 5 0 0
2 15 87 81 51 25 4 5

(b) Reason for admissionof homeless families provided with temporary accommodation in Northern Ireland in the year 1980.

The reasons for admission of 102 single or unsupported mothers are not held centrally. The reasons for admission of other homeless families are as set out below:

Reason for admission Number of Families
Fires, floods etc. 4
Stranded 7
Eviction (public housing) —
(private housing) 2
Family disputes 239
Intimidation 8
Other reasons 45

(c) Length of stay in temporary accommodation of families Northern Ireland—Year ending 31 December 1980.

Length of stay Number of families
Under 1 week 122
1 week and under 1 month 104
1 month and under 3 months 92
3 months and under 6 months 52
6 months and over 5
375
Still in temporary accommodation at year's end 32
407

(d) Destination on discharge from temporary accommodation of homeless families.

Northern Ireland—Year ending 31 December 1980
Destination Number of families
Rehoused (housing authority) 98
Rehoused (private accommodation) 5
Relatives or friends 19
Returned to previous address 206
Other accommodation (various) 19
Not disclosed 28
375
Still in temporary accommodation at year's end 32
407

Similar information relating to single homeless people in the province is as follows:

Number
(a)By age—Year ended 31 December 1980
0–15 1
16–24 38
25–39 42
40–59 35
60+ 25
Not disclosed 1
142
(b)By place from which admitted—Year ended 31 December 1980
General hospitals 3
Psychiatric hospitals 1
Prison —
Sleeping rough 19
Home 82
Lodgings 5
Other 23
Not disclosed 9
142
(c)By length of stay—Year ended 31 December1980
Under 1 week 91
1 week and under 1 month 32
1 month and under 3 months 7
3 months and under 6 months 4
6 months and over 2
Still in at year end 6
142
(d)By destination on discharge—Year ended 31 December 1980
Rehoused (housing authority) 8
Rehoused (private accommodation) 2
Relatives or friends 5
General hospitals —
Psychiatric hospital 1
Home 69
Lodgings 5
Prison —
Other accommodation (various) 7
Not given 45
142