Universal Credit Cut ‘Puts 100,000 Renters At Risk Of Homelessness’

THOUSANDS of renters could be made homeless due to the £20 cut to Universal Credit, a housing charity has warned. More than 100,000 low income people in England will be at least two months behind on their rent when the benefit is reduced. Research by Crisis found that the cut, which coincides with the end of other financial support schemes, could be a disaster for thousands of families who rent their homes. Universal Credit was boosted by an extra £20 a week during the pandemic, amounting to £1,040 a year. Read more on the Sun website.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/16309553/universal-credit-renters-risk-homelessness-your-rights/ 

MHCLG’s Latest Homelessness Statistics For 2020-2021

MHCLG has released the latest statutory homelessness statistics, covering the period from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021. The statistics capture data on everyone who has been assessed under the Homelessness Reduction Act. Whilst the Homelessness Reduction Act significantly expanded the number of people eligible for homelessness support from their local authority, the statutory statistics still only capture those who access support from Housing Options services. This data helps explain the wider trends, but not those not engaging with support, people experiencing more hidden forms of homelessness or those not entitled to support because of immigration restrictions. According to the latest statistics, 268,560 households were at risk of or experienced homelessness from 2020-21. Read more on the Homeless Link website.

https://homeless.org.uk/connect/blogs/2021/sep/13/stats-summary-mhclg%E2%80%99s-latest-homelessness-statistics-for-2020-2021 

At Least 130,000 Households In England Made Homeless In Pandemic

At least 130,000 households in England were made homeless during the first year of the pandemic, despite the government’s ban on evictions. With the ban now over, fears are rising that a surge of evictions may be imminent. But figures show that even while the ban was in place, households were being forced from their homes. Government homelessness statistics and figures collected under the Freedom of Information Act from around 70% of local authorities in England show that 132,362 households were assessed by councils as being owed the “relief duty”, where a household is deemed to already be homeless. Read more on the Observer website.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jun/13/at-least-130000-households-in-england-made-homeless-in-pandemic 

One In Seven Adults Worried About Becoming Homeless During Pandemic

A poll of 3,603 people, carried out by YouGov, found that 14% of respondents were worried about becoming homeless because of the economic situation created by the COVID-19 crisis. Private renters were the group most likely to have concerns about becoming homeless, with 27% now fearing losing their home. Almost half (47%) of private renters said the COVID-19 pandemic has made them feel more anxious or depressed about their housing situation compared to 26% of the general public. Shelter’s research also found that 24% of private renters have had to borrow money to pay their rent in the past month. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/one-in-seven-adults-worried-about-becoming-homeless-during-pandemic-survey-finds-69973 

70,000 Households In UK Made Homeless During Pandemic

More than 70,000 households have been made homeless since the start of the pandemic, with tens of thousands more threatened with homelessness, despite government pledges to protect tenants and prevent evictions. The housing secretary, Robert Jenrick, tweeted in March last year that “no one should lose their home as a result of the coronavirus epidemic”. But despite the government banning evictions for most of the last 10 months, figures show that 207,543 households approached their local council for help with homelessness or the threat of homelessness between the start of April and the end of November 2020. Read more on the Observer website.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jan/09/70000-households-in-uk-made-homeless-during-pandemic

Number Of Homeless Deaths Hits Record High

 An estimated 778 people died while homeless in 2019 in England and Wales, an increase of 7.2 per cent compared to 2018. The ONS stressed it is the highest number of deaths of rough sleepers since the agency began collecting the data in 2013. There has been a 61.4 per cent increase between 2013 and 2019. The majority of identified deaths were in urban areas. London had the highest reported numbers, with 144 estimated deaths of homeless people, 18.5 per cent of the total number. There were more than seven times as many male deaths, compared with females in 2019. Read more on the WLM website.

https://www.wlm.org.uk/news/number-of-homeless-deaths-in-england-and-wales-hit-record-high#:~:text=Number%20of%20homeless%20deaths%20in%20England%20and%20Wales%20hit%20record%20high,-15%20December%202020&text=An%20estimated%20778%20people%20died,collecting%20the%20data%20in%202013

Tens Of Thousands Made Homeless Despite UK Ban On Evictions

Tens of thousands of people have been made homeless since the start of the pandemic despite a ban on evictions, with charities warning that younger people are falling through the gaps. Since April this year at least 90,063 people in the UK have been threatened with homelessness – and more than half of these have already lost their accommodation. Charities say data shows a new cohort of homeless people who have slipped through the cracks despite protections such as the ban on evictions and a government scheme to house the homeless during the coronavirus crisis. Read more on the Guardian website.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/nov/08/tens-thousands-homeless-despite-uk-ban-evictions-covid-pandemic 

Homeless Travelodge Residents Turned Out On To Street

Hundreds of residents of the budget hotel chain Travelodge, including homeless families housed there by local councils, have been turned out on to the street after it closed its premises. The chain issued letters to all residents asking them to leave as soon as possible as they were “temporarily closing the hotels until further notice” in the light of the UK government’s extended coronavirus physical distancing guidelines. This appeared to be in defiance of government guidance that said that hotels looking after homeless families who had been placed in temporary accommodation at in hotels should not close. Read more on the Guardian website.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/25/homeless-travelodge-residents-turned-out-on-to-street-coronavirus

Locked Out: How Britain Keeps People Homeless

Families on housing benefit are priced out of almost all homes to rent in Britain, according to new research by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. As part of an investigation into housing and new homelessness laws, the Bureau has found that councils have been increasingly encouraging those facing or experiencing homelessness to try renting privately, rather than wait for a council house.

However, only 1 in 20 of two-bed properties in the research were affordable. In some cities, the Bureau found almost no affordable two-bed flats to rent. Read more on the BIJ website.

https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2019-10-04/locked-out-how-britain-keeps-people-homeless

Number Of Estimated Homeless Deaths Rises By 22%

The number of people estimated to have died while homeless in 2018 increased by more than a fifth when compared with the previous year. Last year the government estimated there were 726 homeless deaths, which is the highest number since records began in 2013 and 22% higher than the 597 deaths recorded in 2017. The majority of homeless deaths in 2018 were among men, with 641 estimated male deaths (88%), compared with 85 female deaths. The mean age of death was 45 for men and 43 for women in 2018, compared with a national average age of 76 for men and 81 for women. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/number-of-estimated-homeless-deaths-rises-by-22-63520

Thousands Of Homeless Veterans Slipping Through The Net

New analysis of government data points to the potential for up to 3,500 homeless veterans each year losing out on the housing and enhanced support available to them. The No Homeless Veterans campaign – backed by former army sergeant Dame Kelly Holmes – calls on councils to identify and support veterans in housing need and aims to reduce veterans’ homelessness to zero. A survey commissioned to coincide with the launch shows 80% of the British public think more needs to be done to identify and support veterans at risk of homelessness. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/thousands-of-homeless-veterans-slipping-through-the-housing-net/

LGBT People Are 'Being Made Homeless Due To Religion'

Nearly half of young LGBT people who are left homeless after coming out are from religious backgrounds. That's according to research by the Albert Kennedy Trust (AKT), which supports young people who are at risk of homelessness. The charity says three in four LGBT people are rejected by their families - and 45% of that number are from a faith background. The Trust says the majority are from Muslim and Christian families. Read more on the BBC website.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-49150753

High Homeless Death Counts Linked To Councils Worst Affected By Cuts

Nine of the 10 councils with the highest numbers of homeless deaths in England and Wales between 2013 and 2017 have had cuts of more than three times the national average of £254 for every household. Labour has released analysis accounting for council funding cuts disproportionately hitting areas that have the highest numbers of homeless deaths among homeless people, according to a Labour party analysis. Shadow housing secretary John Healey said the stats showed the need for a future PM to acknowledge the present £30m effort to end rough sleeping as “pitiful” and back Labour’s plans to build thousands more homes. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/analysis-links-high-homeless-death-stats-to-councils-worst-hit-by-cuts/

Brokenshire Announces Funding Boost For Homeless Veterans

Veterans who have become homeless, or at risk of it, will be supported through an extra £1 million boost. The money will help ensure those who have served their country have a roof over their heads and have the support they need once leaving the Armed Forces. Money could also be used to direct former soldiers to existing specialist support services on offer, such as access to supported housing and training for staff on mental health issues, including PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and how to support those former service personnel who may initially be reluctant to receive help. Read more on the GovUK website.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/brokenshire-announces-funding-boost-for-homeless-veterans

£45.5 Million To Help House The Homeless In The Private Rented Sector

The MHCLG has announced that £19.5 million will be shared amongst local authorities in England, to help the house the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless. A further £26 million will be used to fund specialist support for vulnerable tenants struggling with mental health problems and substance misuse issues. The £19.5million scheme which will involve 54 local authorities includes 15 London boroughs with varied regional representation through the participation of Manchester, Portsmouth, Norwich, Birmingham, Bristol and Exeter City Councils. The £26 million pot of funding is yet to be allocated but councils must submit their bids by 29 March 2019. Read more on the NLA website.

https://landlords.org.uk/news-campaigns/news/ps455-million-help-house-the-homeless-in-the-private-rented-sector

£19.5m To Unlock Private Rented Sector For Most Vulnerable

Housing Minister Heather Wheeler MP has confirmed over £19.5m is to be shared among 54 projects across England in bids to help thousands of people who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless, to secure their own home. Councils are to use the funding boost to help vulnerable people secure their own tenancy through support such as paying deposits or putting down the first month’s rent. The Minister has also outlined plans to look at letting adverts which potentially discriminate against would-be-tenants on Housing Benefit, making clear that these “should end”. According to reports, out of 4.5m households living in private rental accommodation, 889,000 receive housing benefit to help pay rent. Read more on 24housing.

https://www.24housing.co.uk/news/19-5m-to-unlock-private-rented-sector-for-most-vulnerable/

Councils ‘Ripped Off’ By Private Landlords

Desperate councils are being “ripped off” as private housing providers take advantage of the growing homeless population, experts have warned, after new figures revealed that local authorities’ spending on temporary accommodation had soared to almost £1bn. Analysis by the Guardian and the housing charity Shelter found that councils across England spent £997m on temporary accommodation in 2017-18, a 71% increase on the £584m in 2012-13. Some councils are spending as much as £200 per head of their population on sheltering homeless households. Housing policy experts said that the sharp rise in homelessness coupled with increasing charges from private providers were behind the increase. Read more on the Guardian website.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jan/01/councils-ripped-off-by-private-landlords-experts-warn

Figures Suggest Universal Credit Is Driving Homelessness And Evictions

Using Freedom of Information Act laws, Inside Housing has obtained figures about numbers of people presenting to their councils as homeless while claiming Universal Credit or housing benefit – one of the six benefits replaced by the government’s flagship welfare reform programme. Among 42 councils which provided data, nearly 5,000 households have declared themselves homeless while claiming Universal Credit since April – out of 168,600 total Universal Credit households across these areas. That equates to around one in 34 households on Universal Credit becoming homeless. By comparison, a separate set of 31 local authorities said 3,600 households claiming housing benefit presented as homeless over the same period, out of 283,500 in total – approximately one in 79. Read more on Inside Housing.

https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/figures-suggest-universal-credit-is-driving-homelessness-and-evictions-59468

Half Of Female Prisoners Being Released To Homelessness

Half of female prisoners are left homeless after their release from prison, a report into the largest women's prison in Europe has found. A study by the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) on HMP Bronzefield found 50 per cent of inmates left with no fixed residence. The report drew attention to the impact the Offender Rehabilitation Act has had on the number of recalls to prison. The law sees former inmates frequently taken back to prison for minor infringements where they can spend several more weeks in prison without achieving proper rehabilitation. Read more on the Independent website.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/female-prisoners-homeless-imb-report-jailed-bronzefield-a8618806.html

No-Fault Evictions Making Hundreds Of Families Homeless Each Week

Analysis of quarterly eviction and homelessness data by the pressure group Generation Rent suggests that 216 households evicted every week in England under section 21 of the 1988 Housing Act are becoming homeless. These are known as no-fault evictions because landlords do not need a reason such as rent arrears or property damage to kick tenants out. The end of a private tenancy is now the single biggest cause of homelessness in England, with the number of cases more than trebling from 4,580 to 16,320 between 2009 and 2017. The analysis reveals for the first time that 94% of this rise can be blamed on no-fault evictions, which have more than doubled since 2009. Read more on the Observer website.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/18/no-fault-evictions-hundreds-of-families-homeless-each-week