A report said that thousands of vulnerable people risk being made homeless because of lack of co-operation between local authority housing and social services departments.
Source: Sarah Credland, Local Authority Progress and Practice, Shelter (020 7505 4699)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Dec
Researchers found that all local housing authorities in England use temporary accommodation at least occasionally for homeless households experiencing domestic violence. At the end of March 1999, nine out of ten local authorities were using it for this purpose. The researchers said that local authorities should see refuges as part of the provision available to them rather than viewing them as entirely separate. The government announced a new national 24-hour free helpline to help women and children fleeing domestic violence, and published a policy briefing on the links between homelessness and domestic violence.
Source: Debra Levison and Doreen Kenny, The Provision of Accommodation and Support for Households Experiencing Domestic Violence in England, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (01709 891318) | Press release 11.12.02, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 3000) | Homelessness and Domestic Violence, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 3000)
Links: Summary | Press release | Policy briefing (pdf)
Date: 2002-Dec
Campaign groups said the government will not meet its target to end child poverty unless the plight of hundreds of thousands of children living in bad housing is tackled. They said that children s lives their health, education and well being are being ruined by damp, overcrowded and inadequate homes. It called for central government funding targeted at supporting homeless children, and for 90,000 good quality affordable homes to be built each year for the people who desperately need them.
Source: Child Poverty, Housing and Homelessness, End Child Poverty (020 7843 1913) and Shelter
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
A report presented the findings from a project commissioned by the government in 2000 to assist policy development in primary care health for homeless people who sleep rough. It concluded that tackling homelessness needs more than just a housing response: it needs determined and coordinated action over a period of time by a wide range of partners.
Source: Si n Griffiths, Addressing the Health Needs of Rough Sleepers, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 5907)
Links: Report (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2002-Dec
Research found that hospital accident and emergency departments are under extra pressure because of the problems that homeless people face in registering with a general practitioner.
Source: Critical Condition: Vulnerable single homeless people and access to GPs, Crisis (020 7015 1800)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
The founder of the 'Big Issue' magazine (which homeless people sell to earn an income) said that giving money to beggars does nothing to help them, and that anti-begging and anti-vagrancy laws should be used to remove them from the streets.
Source: John Bird, Retreat from the Streets, Politeia (020 7240 5070)
Links: Summary
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/2, Digest 122, paragraph 4.2
Date: 2002-Dec
The Greater London Authority launched a pilot inclusion centre (in Hoxton, East London) designed to help tackle homelessness and social exclusion. The centre will offer jobs advice, vocational training and social and leisure facilities to homeless people and those at risk of becoming homeless, as well as to the wider community.
Source: Press release 9.12.02, Greater London Authority (020 7983 4000)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
The government said that it intends to outlaw the use of bed and breakfast hotels for homeless families except in emergencies. A charity for homeless people commented: 'It is an affront to human dignity that we have allowed this practice to go on for so long. It undermines family life, and causes serious harm to the education, health and development of children. It is also a total waste of taxpayers' money'.
Source: Press release 3.12.02, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 3000) | Press release 17.12.02, Catholic Housing Aid Society (020 7723 7273)
Links: ODPM press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124, paragraph 4.2
Date: 2002-Dec
A survey found that one in three homeless and vulnerable people interviewed said they normally spend Christmas alone, compared to just 2 per cent of the general population. Three in five said they have never, or hardly ever, enjoyed Christmas since becoming homeless.
Source: Press release 20.12.02, Crisis (020 7015 1800)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Dec
The number of households in England in accommodation arranged by local authorities under the statutory homelessness provisions was 84,800 at the end of September 2002 (up 9 per cent since September 2001).
Source: Press release 11.12.02, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 3000)
Links: No link
Date: 2002-Dec
A study found strong evidence of success in three 'homeless to home' projects designed to help formerly homeless families sustain a tenancy and live successfully in the community.
Source: Firm Foundations: An Evaluation of the Shelter Homeless to Home Service, Shelter (020 7505 4699)
Links: CHP press release
Date: 2002-Nov
A report focused on the experiences of women for whom domestic abuse has been the trigger for a cycle of repeat homelessness, and made recommendations for how housing and support services can contribute to reducing repeat homelessness.
Source: Repeat Homelessness and Domestic Abuse, Shelter Scotland (0131 473 7170)
Links: Summary
Date: 2002-Nov
Guidance was issued aimed at reducing the number of properties leased from the private market that require referral to the Rent Officer. Social landlords said the new guidance will make it easier for housing associations to provide homeless households with an alternative to bed-and-breakfast accommodation.
Source: Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Circular HB/CTB A28/2002, Department for Work and Pensions (0113 399 4000) | Press release 18.10.02, National Housing Federation (020 7278 6571)
Links: Guidance (pdf) | NHF press release (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
General practitioners said the best way to improve the health of homeless people is to provide appropriate and secure housing; that new service models need to be developed which utilise the complementary strengths of generalist and specialist expertise; and that interdisciplinary and multi-agency working are vital to the development of effective services.
Source: Statement on Homelessness and Primary Care, Royal College of General Practitioners (020 7581 3232)
Links: Statement
Date: 2002-Oct
A report highlighted confusion in the homelessness sector around the different kinds of prevention services currently offered, and how this lack of clarity can be a barrier between quality local services and the local needs of young people.
Source: Safe in the City: A practical approach to preventing youth homelessness, Safe in the City (0207 922 5710)
Date: 2002-Oct
Charities said that the most vulnerable street homeless people will continue to be trapped on the streets unless voluntary and statutory agencies work more effectively together.
Source: Millennium Plus: A good practice model for tackling street homelessness, Shelter (020 7505 4699) and Crisis
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Oct
A report said that a consideration of homeless people's social networks should form part of assessment and support work. For some people, more is needed than can be provided by generic support workers: they need specialist support such as family mediation, befriending and counselling.
Source: Gerard Lemos and Stefan Durkacz, Dreams Deferred - The families and friends of homeless and vulnerable people, Lemos&Crane (020 8348 8263)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Oct
The Northern Ireland Housing Executive published its homelessness strategy, which sought to recognise the importance of tackling family breakdown, lack of education or training opportunities, and problems of drug abuse and mental illness.
Source: The Homelessness Strategy, Northern Ireland Housing Executive (028 9024 0588)
Links: Strategy (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
The number of households in England in accommodation arranged by local authorities under the statutory homelessness provisions was 81,170 at the end of June 2002 (up 8 per cent since June 2001).
Source: Press release 11.9.02, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 3000)
Links: Press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/1, Digest 121, paragraph 4.2
Date: 2002-Sep
A report said that around 100,000 children suffer homelessness each year, and described the experiences of 50 children who were homeless in Bristol between 1999 and 2002.
Source: Where s Home?: Children and Homelessness in Bristol, Shelter (020 7505 4699)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124, paragraph 4.2
Date: 2002-Sep
The government announced that a new project will examine the causes of homelessness among people from black and minority ethnic communities in England, and make recommendations for improving existing services.
Source: Press release 12.9.02, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (020 7944 3000)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
A new Homelessness Bill in Scotland will expand the categories of people assessed as being in priority need, and allow homeless people to apply to any local authority without having to demonstrate a local connection.
Source: Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Executive, TSO (0870 606 5566)
Links: Text of Bill (pdf) | Press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124, paragraph 4.2
Date: 2002-Sep
Research by a housing charity showed divorce and relationship breakdown are contributing significantly to an 'underclass' of hidden homeless people.
Source: Press release 20.8.02, Crisis (020 7015 1800)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Aug
Research found that almost a quarter of homeless people have GCSE (General Certificate of Education) qualifications, one in 12 have a degree, and one in 20 have a professional qualification.
Source: Press release 28.8.02, Crisis (020 7015 1800)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Aug
Research found that the mental health needs of homeless young people are considerable, but that current services do not generally provide adequate support.
Source: The Mental Health Needs of Homeless Young People, Mental Health Foundation (020 7802 0300)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Aug
A new report revealed that in spite of widespread addiction to drink and drugs amongst homeless people, they are often not getting the help they need, leaving them with little hope of overcoming their problems and escaping homelessness.
Source: Oswin Baker (ed.), Home and Dry?: Homelessness and Substance Use, Crisis (020 7015 1800)
Links: Press release
Date: 2002-Jul
The Homelessness Act 2002, providing greater protection for dependent children and vulnerable people, came into force on 31 July 2002.
Source: Homelessness Act 2002, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Act | Press release
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124, paragraph 4.2
Date: 2002-Jul
A Northern Ireland Assembly report recommended that homelessness be redefined in law as the absence of a safe and accessible place to stay .
Source: Second Report on the Inquiry into Housing in Northern Ireland (Homelessness), Third Report 2001-02 (two volumes), Northern Ireland Assembly (028 9052 1333)
Links: Report
Date: 2002-Jun
The Court of Appeal reversed a previous ruling that local authorities had no power to help homeless families find accommodation together.
Source: R (W) v. Lambeth London Borough Council, 3.5.02, Court of Appeal (Civil Division)
Links: Summary of judgement
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123 (paragraph 4.2)
Date: 2002-May
