Scottish Government

STATISTICS RELEASE
Operation of the Homeless Persons Legislation in Scotland:
Households in Temporary Accommodation: Quarter Ending 30 SEPTEMBER 2002

11 February 2003
(Table 4 revised July 2003)

A Scottish Executive National Statistics Publication

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Introduction

This Statistics Release presents information about households that were living in temporary accommodation on 30 September 2002, in each local authority area, having been placed there by the local authority under the homeless persons legislation. The information is broken down by type of accommodation, and is given separately for households with children. The actual numbers of children in the various types of temporary accommodation are also given.

The main points are:

• At the end of September 2002 local authorities reported, 4,704 households in temporary accommodation, some 20% more than reported for the end of September 2001.
• 53% (2,471) of these households were in local authority owned dwellings with a further 28% (1,324) in hostels.
• A total of 706 households were in B&B accommodation at the end of September 2002, 243 (52%) more than at the end of September 2001.
• Of the 4,704 total households in temporary accommodation at the end of September 2002, 1,490 were families with children, 9% more than the number of families in temporary accommodation at the end of September 2001. 110 of these families were in B&B accommodation - an increase of 5 families since the previous quarter and an increase of 34 families since the equivalent quarter last year.
• 59% of all households in temporary accommodation at the end of September 2002 were accounted for by five local authorities: Glasgow, Edinburgh, South Lanarkshire, Fife and North Lanarkshire. Glasgow alone accounted for 36% of the households.
• 26 local authorities reported an increase in the number of households in temporary accommodation compared to the same time last year. The largest increase was reported in Glasgow (1,700 at end September 2002 compared to 1,438 at end September 2001). The largest decrease was reported in Stirling (from 82 at the end of September 2001 to 67 at the end of September 2002).
• 46% of the families with children reported in temporary accommodation at the end of September 2002 were accounted for by four local authority areas: Glasgow, Edinburgh, South Lanarkshire and Fife, with Glasgow alone accounting for 24%. Highland, Argyll & Bute and South Lanarkshire had the highest numbers of households with children in B&B accommodation at the end of September 2002 - 19, 15 and 10 respectively.

Households in Temporary Accommodation by Accommodation Type:31 March 1991 to 30 September 2002
Table 1

1. The majority of hostel accommodation is accounted for by Glasgow - see Notes and Definitions.
2. The category 'other' includes mainly housing associations and private landlords. Prior to June 1999 the figures may also include an unknown number of Local Authority-owned chalets or mobile homes
Note: Figures from March 1993 to March 1996 include estimates for Fife council. Midlothian figures prior to 30 June 2002 are reported incorrectly since they only related to households placed into temporary accommodation during the quarter.
Since September 2002 Councils have had an increased duty to provide temporary accommodation, advice and assistance to everyone assessed as homeless. Prior to that date there was only a duty to provide accommodation to those assessed as in priority need.

Households with Children and Numbers of Children by Temporary Accommodation Type 30 September 2001 to 30 September 2002
Table 2

1. The majority of hostel accommodation is accounted for by Glasgow - see Notes and Definitions.
2. The category 'other' includes mainly housing associations and private landlords.
Note: Figures from March 1993 to March 1996 include estimates for Fife council. Midlothian figures prior to 30 June 2002 are reported incorrectly since they only related to households placed into temporary accommodation during the quarter.
Since September 2002 Councils have had an increased duty to provide temporary accommodation, advice and assistance to everyone assessed as homeless. Prior to that date there was only a duty to provide accommodation to those assessed as in priority need.

Total Households, Households with Children and Number of Children in each Type of Temporary Accommodation at End of September 2002 by Local Authority Area
Table 3

Note: The majority of hostel accommodation is accounted for by Glasgow - see Notes and Definitions.
The category 'other' includes mainly housing associations and private landlords.
Midlothian figures prior to 30 June 2002 are reported incorrectly since they only related to households placed into temporary accommodation during the quarter.

Total Households and Households with Children in Temporary Accommodation: end June 2001 to end September 2002 By Local Authority Area
Table 4

1. Percentages are calculated using the 2000-based projection for 2002. Due to an error in the previously published data, these figures were revised in July 2003.
Note Figures from March 1993 to March 1996 include estimates for Fife council. Midlothian figures prior to 30 June 2002 are reported incorrectly since they only related to households placed into temporary accommodation during the quarter.
Since September 2002 Councils have had an increased duty to provide temporary accommodation, advice and assistance to everyone assessed as homeless. Prior to that date there was only a duty to provide accommodation to those assessed as in priority need.

Notes and Definitions

The figures in this Release relate only to those households that have been placed in temporary accommodation by a local authority under the homeless persons legislation. This will include households for whom the local authority's decision and final action is still pending, as well as households that were secured such accommodation as a final action by the authority under the legislation.

Hostels, as temporary accommodation under the homeless persons legislation, are used mainly by Glasgow. In fact, almost all households that live in hostels in Glasgow have been placed there by the authority under the homeless persons legislation. In other authorities, particularly in the cities, there are many households living in hostels that have not been placed there by the local authority under the homeless persons legislation. Consequently they are not recorded in the statistics.

Households with dependent children: dependant children are those aged under 16 who are in full time education or those aged 18 or less who are either receiving or about to begin full time education or training or are for some other reason unable to support themselves.

The following symbols are used throughout the bulletin:

.. not available

- nil or less than half the final digit shown

Note: Housing Statistics Publications, including printable Adobe portable document format and Excel versions of the tables are available in the "Published Data" section of the housing statistics branch reference web site: www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/housing/hsbref

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