Definition and numbers

There is no national figure for how many people are homeless across the UK. This is because homelessness is recorded differently in each nation and because many homeless people do not show up in official statistics at all.

Briefing on key homelessness facts and statistics

Rough sleeping

At worst, homelessness can mean sleeping rough on the streets.

Government statistics show 2,309 people slept rough in England on any one night during 2012 - a 31 per cent rise on 2010

Local agencies report 5,678 people slept rough in London alone throughout 2011/12 - a 43 per cent rise on 2010/11

However, the problem of homelessness is much bigger than that of rough sleeping. As the previous Government stated: "the vast majority of homeless people are actually families or single people who are not literally sleeping on the streets but living with relatives and friends or in temporary accommodation^"

More on rough sleeping

Statutory homelessness

Local authorities do not have to provide housing for all homeless people. Instead, they have a duty to house 'statutory' homeless people and, every year, tens of thousands of people apply to their local authority for homelessness assistance.

To be legally defined as homeless you must either lack a secure place in which you are entitled to live or not reasonably be able to stay in your current accommodation. However, in order for your local authority to have a duty to find you housing, there are further strict criteria that you have to meet. The housing a local authority provides to households who meet these criteria, mainly families with children, may initially be temporary accommodation.

In England:

Almost 110,000 households applied to their local authority for homelessness assistance in 2011/12 - a rise of 22 per cent on 2009/10.
46 per cent were accepted as homeless and in 'priority need' - a 26 per cent rise since 2009/10.

In Wales:

Almost 15,000 households applied to their local authority for homelessness assistance in 2011/12 - a 16 per cent rise on 2009/10.
43 per cent were accepted as being homeless and in 'priority need' - a 17 per cent rise on 2009/10.

In Scotland:

Over 45,000 households applied fro homelessness assistance in 2011/12 - 19 per cent lower than the previous year.
76 per cent were accepted as homeless, 91 per cent of whom were accepted as being in priority need.

If you don't have dependent children (known as ‘single homelessness') and you are not deemed to be more vulnerable than other homeless people, you probably won't be entitled to housing.

More on statutory homelessness

Single and hidden homelessness

The vast majority of single homeless people who are not entitled to housing, as well as those who, for a variety of reasons do not even apply for homelessness assistance, end up surviving out of sight.

Many stay in hostels and there are almost 41,500 bed spaces in hostels for single homeless people in England alone^[4^] but there are other ways to get by. This might mean staying in squats or B&Bs, in overcrowded accommodation or ‘concealed' housing, such as the floors or sofas of friends and family.

If you do not qualify for local authority housing assistance, if you are sleeping rough, staying in a hostel, a squat or some other form of unsatisfactory or insecure accommodation, then you are one of the countless thousands of hidden homeless people.

Homelessness amongst different groups

Anyone can become homeless but some groups' homelessness may be caused by different factors and they may experience homelessness in a different way.

Homelessness for both men and women is often caused by an accumulation of events. However, the triggers and experiences of women's homelessness tend to be of a distinct nature.

Young people become homeless for a wide range of reasons but the most common is being asked to leave the family home by their parents.

Whilst the vast majority will not become homeless, migrants, refugees and asylum seekers are particularly vulnerable to homelessness.