§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what analysis has been made of the causes of homelessness; and what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to prevent homelessness occurring.
§ Sir George YoungA breakdown by reason for homelessness of households accepted by locl authorities under the Housing (Homeless Person) Act 1977 is contained in the tables published quarterly by[...] Department, copies of which are in the Library. I would refer the hon. Member also to the reply given on 30 January to a question by the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker).—[Vol. 90, c. 610.]
The results of the latest research into homelessness carried out for my Department were published under the titles "Single and Homeless" (HMSO 1981) and "A Place for the Family" (SHAC 1982). Copies of these are also in the Library. Further research into homelessness is currently in hand.
A wide range of Government measures have been introduced to increase the availability of accommodation in both the public and the private sectors and we are currently considering additional measures which might help to relieve the problem of homelessness in this and other ways. The provision of housing advice by voluntary bodies at national and regional level is assisted by grants from my Department under section 13 of the Act.