Households accepted as homeless and in temporary accommodation

What does this graph show?

The graph shows two things. Firstly, it shows the total number of households accepted as homeless in London as a proportion of all London households. This is compared, over time and to the proportion for the rest of England.

It also shows the number of households accommodated under statutory duties in temporary accommodation. This is a snapshot of figures from the 31st of March each year. Again, this is shown as a proportion of all households, and compared over time to the rest of England.

The rate of homeless acceptances in London is slightly higher than in the rest of England, at 3 acceptances per 1,000 households per year, compared to 2 elsewhere. While this figure is higher than the national average, it is lower than some other large cities such as Birmingham and Sheffield.

In 2010, 9,700 households were accepted as homeless in London. The proportion of households placed in temporary accommodation under statutory duties in London is more than ten times as high as the rest of England - 11 per 1,000 (or 40,000 households) compared to 1 per 1,000. This is a reduction of 20,000 or one-third since 2007. However, London now accounts for 75% of all households in temporary accommodation in England, compared to 69% in 2007.

Both the number of homeless acceptances and the number of households in temporary accommodation had been declining in recent years. But the fall in the number of households being accepted as homeless had stopped by 2010 both in London and in England as a whole.

In fact, in the second half of 2010, the number of both homeless applications and acceptances had risen slightly in London compared to the same time in 2009. The figures for the first quarter of 2011 continue this upward trend.

Find out more about temporary accommodation by tenure and by borough.

Find out more about homeless acceptances by London boroughs.

Additional Information

The high number of children living in temporary accommodation contributes to the high turnover in pupil numbers and leads to gaps in the child's schooling. Local Government research suggests that children in such accommodation have lower levels of achievement than other children.

Data used

Department for Communities and Local Government Live Tables

Indicator last updated: 30 January 2012