Article

Homelessness figures down 32 per cent

National statistics released today show that the number of households accepted as being owed a main homelessness duty is down 32 per cent from the same time last year.

The figures show that 10,650 households were accepted as homeless by local authorities between April to June 2009 - a 32 per cent reduction compared to the same quarter last year.

The statistics also show the largest year on year decrease in the number of households in temporary accommodation since 2004. There are now 60,230 households in temporary accommodation which is 19 per cent lower than this time last year, and down by around 40,000 since June 2004.

Homelessness Minister Ian Austin said:

"Backed by unprecedented Government investment, local authorities and their partners have made huge strides in reducing homelessness, with homelessness acceptances down by 32 per cent compared to this time last year.

"But we will not stop here, we want these sustained reductions to continue, which is why we are investing £220m over three years in local authorities and the voluntary sector to tackle and prevent homelessness and have introduced a comprehensive range of support to help struggling homeowners avoid repossession."

As part of the drive to further reduce homelessness, funding has also been announced for seven social entrepreneurs with bright business ideas to help tackle homelessness. Through the Communities and Local Government backed scheme, £10,000 will be allocated to market test the innovative ideas and to develop business models. These includes Candy Couture a beauty salon, Punch and Juicy a health food business and Suitcase Media which aims to provide a downloadable audio tour of London and is supported by British Telecom Global Services. The entrepreneurs are all receiving mentoring from established entrepreneurs including Nigel Kershaw at the Big Issue, The Trees Group and corporate partner PriceWaterhouseCoopers to help them develop their business plans.

Ian Austin said:

"Finding new and innovative ways of tackling homelessness is a key part of sustaining reductions in homelessness acceptances.

"The Sparklers programme is a new and exciting opportunity for homeless entrepreneurs to make their business ideas a reality and help themselves and other homeless people back into successful and independent life."

Figures also released today, based on the results of local authority street counts, show a fall in the number of people sleeping rough with a total of 464 compared to 483 last year. A toolkit to help local authorities and the voluntary sector better tackle rough sleeping is also being published.

Notes to editors

1. The latest homelessness statistics can be found at: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/homelessnessq22009

2. The seven Sparklers receiving CLG funding to market test their business ideas are:

• Comedius - Michael Goodison, Derby (£1000)
  A big-picture project which aims to really engage the homeless and disadvantaged in live music, amongst other creative and performing arts. Their enterprise model involves selling and performing 'The Buskers' Album' which features homeless service users performing their tracks, and has been produced in partnership with Derby University and local artists
• Elev8 my style - Stephanie Thomas, Hackney (£2105)
  This enterprise runs from a street market stall and aims to have a dual function in being a retail outlet for artisan goods produced by homeless and disadvantaged people, as well as being staffed and managed by those affected by homelessness. The aim is to be a very practical progression route that has three components: creative development, self development and entrepreneurial development
• Candy Couture - Beatrice Obianwu, Harlesden (£1000)
  Candy Couture is going to offer training and experience to young homeless individuals. Beatrice aims to empower these individuals by giving them skills in the beauty industry, which will allow them to either become self-employed or to look for mainstream placements
• Suitcase Media - James Connelly, Balham (£1000)
  The lifestyle of a homeless individual may be chaotic but their bird's-eye viewpoint on an area is insightful, original and out-of-the-ordinary. Suitcase Media will start in Covent Garden as a tour application that tourists and visitors can download onto MP3s and mobile phones to see the area through the audio recording of a homeless resident
• Squeaky Chains - Nigel Hulme, New Cross (£1000)
  Squeaky chains will operate a mobile bike repair service. It will focus on servicing schools, youth clubs and community facilities such as markets and libraries. Participants delivering the service will mostly come from a homeless or disadvantaged background and the aim will be for the enterprise to give them employment experience, to get them out and about and healthy, and through 'Bikeworks' and Squeaky Chains, to go on to expand the bike maintenance business across London
• Punch and Juicy - Davina Roberts, Harlesden (£2000)
  This innovative food and catering enterprise is building on the demand for juice stalls to provide a wide range of fruit juices, raw food and tasty meals. In particular, Punch and Juicy will provide healthy foods to service user organisations to offer a healthy and fun alternative to people who need to recover from substance abuse and physically poor health
• From Pavement To Catwalk - Donald Waugh, London (£1000)
  Donald starred in Bugsy Malone as a child actor then had an illustrious career in film, television and theatre spanning over 25 years. During this time however, he began on a downward spiral which eventually led to him losing his home and becoming a homeless alcoholic. Out of this comes his vision for 'From Pavement to Catwalk', which is to bring together professional fashion designers, jewellery designers and up and coming super models with homeless people, people sleeping rough and in hostels. By using the help of professionals within the fashion industry 'From Pavement to Catwalk' will mentor people that are struggling on the fringes of society and hopefully culminate in a fashion gala at London Fashion Week 2010 where all the participants will have a chance to display their creations and new found talents.

For more information on the Sparklers please go to: www.sparkchallenge.org/sparklers.html (external link).

3. Steps have been taken to ensure help is available at every stage of the repossession process. This includes:

• Action on advice: The Government is investing £130m in providing free face-to-face debt advice services between 2006 and 2011, and over the past year more than 100,000 families have received information and advice about their mortgages from councils and Citizens Advice Bureaux. Practical, impartial advice is available at www.direct.gov.uk/mortgagehelp (external link).
• Action on lenders: We have taken action so homeowners are treated fairly with tolerance and understanding from lenders for those in mortgage arrears - 116,000 struggling households are now benefiting from special arrangements agreed with their lender.
• Action in the courts: Lenders must prove they have exhausted every possible option before applying for a repossession order.There is now free universal access to this service for people attending repossession hearings at county courts in England. Even on the day of a repossession hearing, around four in five repossessions can still be stopped if the households attend court and access free advice.
• Action to provide direct support: Through special Government schemes like Support for Mortgage Interest and Homeowners Mortgage Support over 200,000 families are now getting help with their mortgage interest payments - with another 88,000 expected to benefit over the next two years. And for the most vulnerable households facing the immediate threat of repossession, there is the safety net of the Mortgage Rescue Scheme.

4. The 2009 rough sleeping count can be found at: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/roughsleeping2009.

5. The new rough sleeping toolkit can be found at:
www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/selfassessmenttoolkit.

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