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17 A reduction in the number of families with children in temporary accommodation (England).
Baseline and trends: Baseline year – 2002. The number of homeless families with dependent children in temporary accommodation in England fell by 9 per cent between March 2006 and March 2007, compared with a 2 per cent decrease between 2005 and 2006. Compared with the baseline, the increase between March 2002 and March 2007 was 19 per cent.
| Number of families | Annual year-on-year % increase | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline | March 2002 | 54,660 | - |
| March 2003 | 61,500 | 13% | |
| March 2004 | 70,580 | 15% | |
| March 2005 | 72,670 | 3% | |
| March 2006 | 71,560 |
-2% | |
| March 2007 | 65,210 | -9% | |
Definition: Figures for the number of families in temporary accommodation are based on the number of families with dependent children accepted by local authorities as unintentionally homeless and in priority need living in temporary accommodation arranged by a local authority under the homelessness legislation.
At the end of March 2007, 92 per cent of homeless households with dependent children were housed in self-contained accommodation – that is, with sole use of kitchen and bathroom facilities. Over half (59 per cent) were in private sector houses and flats leased by local authorities and registered social landlords (also known as housing associations), while just over a fifth (21 per cent) were in social housing owned and managed by local authorities and registered social landlords. Twelve per cent were in ’other‘ accommodation (mainly homes rented directly from private landlords). Finally, 8 per cent were in accommodation where facilities were shared with other households – this was usually a hostel or women’s refuge (6 per cent), with the remaining 1.5 per cent in bed and breakfast-type units.
Data source: The data for the number of families in temporary accommodation are from P1(E) quarterly returns, as collected by the Housing and Communities Analysis Division of Communities and Local Government. Data on families in temporary accommodation with dependent children have only been collected since March 2002.
Linked to the Department for Communities and Local Government Homes for All target: In Sustainable Communities: Homes for All. A Five-Year Plan from the ODPM, published in January 2005, the Department announced that by 2010 the total number of households in temporary accommodation would be reduced to half its current level.
Further information
The latest quarterly statistical release on statutory homelessness, which includes information on the number of households with children in different forms of temporary accommodation can be found at: www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1156302