§ Lord Roberts of Llandudnoasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their estimate of the current number of homeless people in (a) London; and (b) the whole of the United Kingdom; and [HL4892]
What were the number of homeless people at Christmas-time in (a) 1980; (b) 1990; and (c) 2000. [HL4893]
§ Lord RookerInformation collected about local authorities' actions under homelessness legislation is in respect of households, rather than persons. Estimates of those accepted by local authorities in England and London as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need during the last six months of 1980, the last quarters of 1990 and 2000, and during the second quarter of 2004 (the latest available period) are tabled below:
Households accepted as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need1 England London 1980 (Oct-Dec)2 16,600 4,400 1990 (Oct-Dec) 33,560 9,230 2000 (Oct-Dec) 27,420 7,130 2004 (Apr-June) 32,840 7,420 Notes:
1 Households eligible under homelessness legislation and found to be unintentionally homeless and in a priority need category.
2 Estimated, as data were only reported half-yearly; includes a number of non-priority acceptances.
Source:
ODPM P1E homelessness returns.
After being accepted as homeless, a household will be placed in some form of accommodation. They may be placed in temporary accommodation, until a settled solution becomes available, or they may be given a settled solution straight away depending on the accommodation available to the local authority. Alternatively, if possible, the household may remain in their current accommodation (homeless at home), until a settled solution becomes available.
Information is also collected, since 1998, on the number of people who sleep rough—that is, those who are literally roofless—on a single night in June. The following table shows information for England and London.
193WA
Number of people sleeping rough England London 1998 1,850 621 1999 1,633 635 2000 1,180 546 2001 703 357 2002 596 321 2003 504 267 2004 508 265 For corresponding information in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, I refer the noble Lord to the Secretaries of State for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.