§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has regarding the number of homeless adolescents and young people known to be seeking accommodation in London and other major conurbations in an average 24-hour period; how many obtain accommodation through local authority services and through voluntary organisations, respectively; and how many remain unaccommodated in the same 24-hour period.
§ Sir George YoungThis information is not available.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the voluntary organisations which provide accommodation, information about accommodation, or both, to homeless adolescents and young people in London and other major conurbations; and which of these organisations receive grants from his Department.
§ Sir George YoungCentral records are not maintained which would allow this information about voluntary housing organisations to be readily obtained. A list of bodies providing accommodation and assistance to young homeless people, among others, is contained in a Directory of Projects (England and Wales) 1982–83 which is co-produced by the Federation of Alcoholic Rehabilitation Establishments, MIND (National Association for Mental Health), the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders, the National Association of Voluntary Hostels and the Standing Conference on Drug Abuse; it is available from Taylor Hall Publishing Ltd., Chearsley, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
Voluntary and statutory housing advice centres are listed in the Directory of Housing Aid and Advice Centres, published by the Association of Housing Aid, 37A Waterloo street, Birmingham.
My Department gives financial assistance under various schemes to a number of voluntary bodies concerned with housing.
Some of the bodies funded by the Department under section 13 of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 are specially concerned with the needs of single homeless people. These include Housing Advice Switchboard, The Campaign for the Single Homeless, the National Association of Voluntary Hostels and National Cyrenians.
123WThe last three also receive funding from the Department of Health and Social Security in recognition of the care element of their work.
The Directory of Registered Housing Associations, published by the Housing Corporation, lists all housing associations which are eligible to receive Government-provided Housing Association grant and identifies those providing accommodation for young people. A copy is in the House Library.
The urban programme also provides considerable grant aid to organisations offering accommodation or advice to young people, among others. Details of all the organisations supported in this way could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department will consider providing a grant towards the cost of the comparative study of the policies, organisation and funding of governmental and non-governmental organisations dealing with homeless young people in EC countries currently being planned by European Research into Consumer Affairs (ERICA).
§ Sir George YoungNo application for such a grant has been received by my Department.