A report said that the government still had a long way to go to solve the problems faced by people forced to sleep rough or stay in homeless hostels. Despite progress made in some areas, the government still did not provide enough specialist help, hostel places, or 'move on' accommodation.
Source: Reaching Out: A consultation with street homeless people 10 years after the launch of the Rough Sleepers Unit, Shelter (020 7505 4699)
Links: Report | Shelter press release
Date: 2007-Dec
A report presented the findings of an evaluation of homelessness prevention initiatives across ten local authorities in England. It covered a range of schemes, including landlord liaison, rent deposit, tenancy support, and family mediation services. It also included schemes set up to help prevent homelessness for people leaving prison. A significant proportion of certain types of interventions to prevent homelessness succeeded in their objective.
Source: Hal Pawson et al., Evaluating Homelessness Prevention, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Dec
A report (by a Conservative Party spokesperson) said that the number of homeless households with children had more than doubled in recent years, from 24,000 in 1997 to more than 64,000 in 2007.
Source: Grant Shapps MP, There's No Place Like Home: How 130,000 children will be homeless this Christmas, Grant Shapps MP (grant@shapps.com)
Links: Report | Telegraph report
Date: 2007-Dec
There were 82,750 households in England at the end of September 2007 living in accommodation arranged by local authorities under the statutory homelessness provisions (down 11 per cent on a year earlier).
Source: Statutory Homelessness: England 3rd Quarter 2007, Department for Communities and Local Government (020 7944 3000)
Links: Report | Shelter press release
Date: 2007-Dec
A report examined the implementation in pilot areas of a strategic protocol for increasing 'move on' by homeless people from hostels and supported housing. The results suggested a positive direction of travel in many pilot areas, despite a national context in which access to move on accommodation was becoming increasingly difficult.
Source: Unlocking Solutions: Report of the move on plans protocol (MOPP) pilot, Homeless Link (020 7960 3010)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Nov
An article examined transitions out of lifestyles and identities considered 'disordered', focusing on women's experiences of homelessness and street sex work. The wider issues of the marginalization of women who were assumed to be 'deviant' and 'disordered' were connected to broader changes that criminalized and oppressed citizens who were outside mainstream society.
Source: Carol Corinne Mcnaughton and Teela Sanders, 'Housing and transitional phases out of 'disordered' lives: the case of leaving homelessness and street sex work', Housing Studies, Volume 22 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Nov
A report (by the opposition Conservative Party) said that the number of people sleeping rough was three times greater than official figures. Government statistics put the number sleeping rough each night at 498, whereas 1,300 was a more accurate figure.
Source: Grant Shapps MP, Roughly Sleeping: How a black hole in the street count leads to a systematic underestimate of the number of people sleeping on the streets, Conservative Party (020 7222 9000)
Links: Report | Conservative Party press release | Crisis press release
Date: 2007-Nov
A report examined the system of homelessness provision in England. It identified the strengths that need to be retained, and the areas where improvement was needed.
Source: Elizabeth O'Hara, Rights and Wrongs: The homelessness safety net 30 years on, Shelter (020 7505 4699)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Nov
A report highlighted the issue of relationship breakdown as a major cause of homelessness.
Source: Home Is Where The Heart Is: Homelessness and rebuilding relationships, St. Mungo's (020 8600 3003) and Relate
Links: Report | St Mungo's press release
Date: 2007-Nov
An article examined the tensions between helping resolve people's housing problems, on the one hand, and upholding legal rights to accommodation, on the other. Assisting people at risk of homelessness to access private tenancies was often justified by local authorities as empowering consumers and promoting choice.
Source: Hal Pawson, 'Local authority homelessness prevention in England: empowering consumers or denying rights?', Housing Studies, Volume 22 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Nov
Two linked research reports examined partnership working between housing associations and local housing authorities in delivering local homelessness strategies.
Source: Nicholas Pleace, Deborah Quilgars, Anwen Jones and Julie Rugg, Tackling Homelessness: Housing associations and local authorities working in partnership, Housing Corporation (020 7393 2000) | Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research, Tackling Homelessness: Efficiencies in lettings functions, Housing Corporation
Links: Report (1) | Report (2) | Housing Corporation press release
Date: 2007-Nov
A study examined the existing literature on social housing and worklessness, and housing association activities to tackle worklessness among their residents and in the wider communities in which they worked. Between 2003 and 2008, housing associations had or would have invested £209.5 million in revenue-funded projects of this type.
Source: Helen Cope, Housing Associations Tackling Worklessness, Housing Corporation (020 7393 2000)
Links: Summary | Housing Corporation press release
Date: 2007-Nov
A report examined the attitudes of people in Scotland towards homelessness, drawing on the 2006 Scottish Social Attitudes survey. 48 per cent of people agreed that 'most homeless people have just been unlucky in their lives': but 28 per cent disagreed, and 22 per cent neither agreed nor disagreed.
Source: Nicky Cleghorn, Lisa Given and Rachel Ormston, Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 2006: Public Attitudes to Homelessness, Scottish Government (web publication only)
Links: Report | Summary | SG press release
Date: 2007-Nov
A report said that around three-quarters of injecting drug users had been homeless at some point. In addition, those who had been homeless had higher levels of injecting risk and associated infections, primarily through the sharing of needles and low standards of hygiene.
Source: Fortune Ncube, Shooting Up: Infections among injecting drug users in the UK, Health Protection Agency (020 7339 1300)
Links: Report | HPA press release | Inside Housing report
Date: 2007-Nov
An article examined a longitudinal study of the resettlement of 64 older people who were rehoused into permanent accommodation from homeless people's hostels in England. Rehousing older homeless people successfully was difficult, particularly among those with long histories of homelessness and instability, and more needed to be known about the types of accommodation and the types of support that promoted 'tenancy sustainment'.
Source: Maureen Crane and Anthony Warnes, 'The outcomes of rehousing older homeless people: a longitudinal study', Ageing and Society, Volume 27 Issue 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Nov
An article examined the policy process in relation to tackling street homelessness in Scotland through the Rough Sleepers Initiative.
Source: Isobel Anderson, 'Tackling street homelessness in Scotland: the evolution and impact of the Rough Sleepers Initiative', Journal of Social Issues, Volume 63 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Sep
An article examined the relationships between residents and staff in hostels for homeless young people. The findings highlighted some dilemmas and tensions experienced by both residents and staff, and pointed to effective ways of working with homeless youth.
Source: Liz McGrath and Nancy Pistrang, 'Policeman or friend? Dilemmas in working with homeless young people in the United Kingdom', Journal of Social Issues, Volume 63 Issue 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2007-Sep
There were 84,900 households in England at the end of June 2007 living in accommodation arranged by local authorities under the statutory homelessness provisions (down 10 per cent on a year earlier).
Source: Statutory Homelessness: England 2nd Quarter 2007, Department for Communities and Local Government (020 7944 3000)
Links: Report | DCLG policy brief | DCLG press release | Shelter press release | Homeless Link press release | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Sep
A report highlighted the cost of young people's exclusion from access to the advice they needed to resolve their complex housing and homelessness problems.
Source: James Kenrick, Locked Out: The prevalence and impact of housing and homelessness problems amongst young people, and the impact of good advice, Youth Access (020 8772 9900)
Links: Report | Youth Access press release
Date: 2007-Sep
A report examined the complex and multi-faceted nature of women?s experiences of homelessness.
Source: Kesia Reeve with Rosalind Goudie and Rionach Casey, Homeless Women: Homelessness careers, homelessness landscapes, Crisis (020 7015 1800)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Aug
A report examined the impact volunteering had had on the lives of homeless people, and how they had been managed and supported as volunteers.
Source: Kate Bowgett, Gaining Experience, Giving Time: Homeless people and volunteering, Off the Streets and into Work (020 7089 2722)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Jul
The food standards watchdog said that although most homeless people in Northern Ireland were getting enough to eat, the quality of their diet was poor. Key barriers to eating a balanced diet for those surveyed were their financial situation and education, as well as alcohol and drug abuse.
Source: Deloitte MCS Limited, Research into Food Poverty and Homelessness in Northern Ireland: Final report, Food Standards Agency (020 7276 8000)
Links: Report | FSA press release
Date: 2007-Jul
A report examined the impact of enforcement measures aimed at street users involved in begging and drinking. The effects were potentially very negative for some street users, such as diversion into more dangerous activities or spaces, and the possibility of lengthy prison sentences. Enforcement was therefore a high-risk strategy, only to be used as a last resort, and never with very vulnerable street users such as those with severe mental health problems.
Source: Sarah Johnsen and Suzanne Fitzpatrick, The Impact of Enforcement on Street Users in England, Policy Press for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Report | JRF Findings
Date: 2007-Jul
The Court of Appeal overturned a High Court judgement that a girl (aged 17) was not eligible for accommodation as a looked-after child because she had accepted a place in a hostel for homeless women on leaving custody in a secure training centre. The local council had 'sidestepped' its responsibilities under the Children Act 1989 to accommodate the girl, who was estranged from both her parents, by arranging the hostel placement and encouraging her to declare herself homeless.
Source: S v London Borough of Sutton, Court of Appeal 26 July 2007
Links: Text of judgement | HLPR press release | Community Care report
Date: 2007-Jul
The government published an analysis of the results of a short survey of local housing authorities in England (in January 2007), about homelessness prevention and progress on meeting the government?s target of halving the use of temporary accommodation by 2010. Local authorities were continuing to develop services to prevent homelessness and provide more housing options for those at risk of homelessness; and were on track to meet the target.
Source: Homelessness Statistics June 2007 and Local Authority Survey of Homelessness Prevention, Policy Briefing 19, Department for Communities and Local Government (0870 1226 236)
Links: Briefing
Date: 2007-Jun
A report said that finding households in Wales intentionally homeless often did nothing to deal with the cause of the problems affecting the individual, and indeed led to further exclusion and isolation of vulnerable households. Reforming intentional homelessness would enable local authorities and their partners to act flexibly and proactively to assist people with their support and accommodation needs.
Source: John Pritchard with John Puzey, Clear Intentions: Reforming intentional homelessness in Wales, Shelter Cymru (01792 469400)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Jun
An inquiry report said that there was an urgent need to address the serious shortage of affordable homes in Wales. The Welsh national homelessness strategy was hardly recognized beyond people working in housing..
Source: An Unnatural Disaster: Report of the Commission of Inquiry into homelessness and poor housing conditions in Wales, Shelter Cymru (01792 469400)
Links: Report | BBC report | Inside Housing report
Date: 2007-Jun
There were 87,120 households in England at the end of March 2007 living in accommodation arranged by local authorities under the statutory homelessness provisions (down 10 per cent on a year earlier).
Source: Statutory Homelessness: England 1st Quarter 2007, Department for Communities and Local Government (020 7944 3000) Links: Report
Date: 2007-Jun
A report said that homelessness and substance-misuse services were failing to work together to support homeless drug-users. Efforts to place homeless people in treatment were 'going to waste' when they were not able to get suitable accommodation.
Source: Clean Break: Integrated housing and care pathways for homeless drug users, Homeless Link (020 7960 3010)
Links: Summary | Homeless Link press release | Community Care report
Date: 2007-May
A new book examined the experiences of homeless people, and how false assumptions about homeless people's lives 'mis-shaped their identities' and therefore the services provided.
Source: Mike Seal (ed.), Understanding and Responding to Homeless Experiences, Identities and Cultures, Russell House Publishing (01297 443948)
Links: Summary
Date: 2007-Apr
There were 89,510 households in England at the end of December 2006 living in accommodation arranged by local authorities under the statutory homelessness provisions (down 9 per cent on a year earlier, and the lowest since 2003).
Source: Statutory Homelessness: England 4th Quarter 2006, Department for Communities and Local Government (020 7944 3000) Links: Report | DCLG press release | Shelter press release | Guardian report
Date: 2007-Mar
Researchers mapped and analyzed the homelessness prevention activities of local authorities and partner agencies in Scotland, with the aim of helping authorities assess the usefulness of different approaches and establish the basis for ongoing monitoring of them. Most local authorities had stepped up their homelessness prevention activities in recent years.
Source: Hal Pawson, Emma Davidson and Gina Netto, Evaluation of Homelessness Prevention Activities in Scotland, Scottish Executive (web publication only)
Date: 2007-Mar
A report examined the difficulties that could develop in achieving effective access to housing for homeless (and potentially homeless) households in Wales once a local authority had transferred its housing stock.
Source: Homelessness and Stock Transfer: A guide to the issues and best practice, Cymorth Cymru (029 2055 3687)
Links: Report
Date: 2007-Mar
The government announced a package of measures designed to tackle the problem of youth homelessness and meet its pledge to eliminate the use of bed-and-breakfast accommodation for people aged 16-17 by 2010. A national youth homelessness scheme would be established in partnership with leading charities - focusing on early intervention and prevention, and on both accommodation and non-accommodation needs. 'Centres of excellence' would be set up in each region to ensure councils with a good record on tackling youth homelessness could share practice with neighbours.
Source: Press release 7 March 2007, Department for Communities and Local Government (020 7944 3000)
Links: DCLG press release | Community Care report | Guardian report
Date: 2007-Mar
A report by a committee of the National Assembly for Wales said that more needed to be done urgently to address the problem of youth homelessness in Wales.
Source: 'Everyone's Business ? No-one's Responsibility', Social Justice and Regeneration Committee/National Assembly for Wales (029 2082 5111)
Links: News report
Date: 2007-Feb
The government published a framework for involving a wide range of bodies - including local housing authorities, primary care trusts, Supporting People teams, drug and alcohol teams, and the voluntary sector - in joint planning to improve the access of homeless people to local health services, and to promote joint commissioning of these services where appropriate.
Source: Framework for Planning and Commissioning of Services Related to Health Needs of People who are Homeless or Living in Temporary or Insecure Accommodation, Department for Communities and Local Government (web publication only)
Links: Framework
Date: 2007-Jan
An audit report said that the national homelessness strategy for Wales was helping to prevent homelessness: but further progress needed to be made to improve the co-ordination of activities to reduce homelessness, local prevention services, and evaluation.
Source: Tackling Homelessness in Wales: A review of the effectiveness of the national homelessness strategy, Wales Audit Office (029 2026 0260)
Links: Report | WAO press release
Date: 2007-Jan
A report evaluated a programme involving 50 homeless young people placed in supported accommodation. The programme was designed to test the impact of providing both dedicated employment-related support within the accommodation, and also a guaranteed financial incentive to homeless young people who succeeded in taking up a job. It was found that dedicated employment support workers could have a positive impact on the motivation and resilience of young people.
Source: Working for Your Future: Testing the impact of dedicated employment support in London and Newcastle, Centrepoint (020 7426 5300)
Links: Report | Centrepoint press release
Date: 2007-Jan
