OPERATION OF THE HOMELESS PERSONS LEGISLATION IN SCOTLAND: QUARTERS ENDING 30 JUNE AND 30 SEPTEMBER 2003
Introduction
This Statistics Release presents information on applications made to local authorities under the Homeless Persons legislation during the period April to September 2003. It includes information on the characteristics of applicant households, local authority assessments and the action taken in respect of cases that were concluded. Snapshot data on households in temporary accommodation as at 30 June and 30 September 2003 are also presented in this release.
Context
In 2001, the Scottish Parliament passed legislation which placed additional duties on councils to provide a minimum of temporary accommodation, advice and assistance to all applicants assessed as homeless. In particular, from September 2002, councils have been required to provide temporary accommodation, advice and assistance to non-priority applicants who in the past would have received advice and assistance only.
Main trends
Note: 2001-02 data for assessments are not included due to outstanding HL1 returns from the previous paper-based data collection system. This will be updated once the dataset has been finalised.
In the ten years from 1989-90 to 1999-00, the number of applications under the Homeless Persons legislation has risen by 58%, from 29,068 to 46,023. The most recent data indicate that a further increase has taken place, with 51,504 applications in 2002-03. These changes occurred in three main stages: between 1989 and 1993, 1997 and 1999, with the current rising trend beginning in 2001 (Chart 1).
In recent years the observed increases in levels of applications have primarily been due to the increase in the numbers of single-person households applying, with no or very little variation in applications from other household types (Chart 2). Evidence from previously published data on applications shows that there has been a consistent increase since the mid-90s in the proportions of applications being assessed as being in priority need. This increase has been more marked for applications from single-person households (Statistical Bulletin Operation of the Homeless Persons legislation in Scotland: national and local authority analyses 2002-03).
Note: 2001-02 data for household type are not included due to outstanding HL1 returns from the previous paper-based data collection system. This will be updated once the dataset has been finalised.
While the recorded numbers of households in temporary accommodation have risen gradually since the early 90s, with the exception of a trough in the latter part of the decade, recent figures show a marked and consistent increase during 2002 (Chart 3). This increase was initially observed in March 2002, some six months before the commencement of the legislation. The most likely explanation for this pattern is that councils began anticipating their new duties from the beginning of 2002.
From March 2001, the statistics on temporary accommodation have included a separate breakdown for households with dependent children. Chart 3 shows the number of households with children in temporary accommodation falling to a low as at 31 December 2001, before showing a rise in numbers in 2002. During the recent year, there has been a somewhat more marked increase.
The statistics presented in this release relate to applications made under the legislation as well as individual households. Given the continuous nature of the recording system set up in December 2001, the analyses reported in this bulletin refer to data from the time period relevant to the analysis, and figures may differ from those previously published. Detailed statistical notes on the collection and presentation of this information are provided in the Notes section.
Main points
Applications and applicant households
- During the period April-September 2003, there were 26,802 applications to local authorities under the Homeless Persons legislation. This represents an increase of 6% compared to previous applications during April-September 2002 ( Table 1). Previous increases have been higher (11% between 2001-02 and 2002-03), and it may be that the rise in numbers of applications is beginning to ease off.
- Seven percent of applications during the six-month period April-September 2003 were recorded as repeat applications. This represents a decrease compared to April-September 2002, where 11% of applications were recorded as repeat applications ( Table 2).
- The majority of households applying were single-person households (64%), mainly men. Single parents, predominantly women, accounted for the next largest group (23%) ( Table 3).
Local authority assessment
- Of the 24,721 applications assessed during April-September 2003, 78% were assessed as homeless, and 56% as homeless and in priority need ( Table 5).
Action taken by local authorities
- There were 22,370 applications actioned by local authorities during April-September 2003: out of the 11,933 assessed as in priority need, 48% were offered permanent accommodation and 20% were offered temporary accommodation ( Table 6).
Households in temporary accommodation
- The snapshot figures for households placed in temporary accommodation by local authorities under the Homeless Persons legislation as at 30 June and 30 September 2003 were 5,646 and 6,141 respectively. The latest figure represents an increase of 31% compared to the situation as at 30 September 2002. The most recent figures also show an increase between 30 September 2002 and 30 September 2003 of 29% (from 1,490 to 1,924) in the numbers of households with children in temporary accommodation ( Table 7).
- As at 30 September 2003, 55% of households in temporary accommodation were in local authority accommodation, with a further 26% in hostels and 18% in bed and breakfast accommodation ( Table 8).
- Households with children tended on the whole to be provided with local authority accommodation (86%), with a minority (8%) being placed in bed and breakfast accommodation. As at 30 September 2003, there were 148 households with children in bed and breakfast accommodation. This varied by local authority, with 17 local authorities having none or only one household with children in bed and breakfast, and seven local authorities having more than ten (Tables 8 and 9b).