New Government homelessness statistics questioned by Crisis research
10 December 2009
Government has today released a set of figures indicating that homelessness applications are down again. But Crisis research suggests that councils' practices may be keeping numbers artificially low.
The statutory homelessness figures released today cover the period from July to September 2009. They indicate a 24 per cent fall in the number of people making applications to their local council for help with homelessness and 28 per cent fall in the number of applications accepted by councils, compared with the same period in 2008.
However, research by Crisis indicates that some councils are ‘gatekeeping' - preventing people approaching them for help from making an application, so artificially keeping the numbers of applications low.
In an undercover investigation, Crisis ‘mystery shoppers' posed as people asking for help with homelessness and made 45 visits to councils to test their responses and published the results in our report No one's priority.
In at least 13 instances the mystery shopper did not even get to talk to a housing officer, being turned away by a receptionist, told that they were ‘not a priority'. In only nine instances was the shopper given the opportunity to make a homelessness application or did it appear that they eventually might have been. None of the other mystery shoppers, or homeless people in similar circumstances, would appear in the figures released today.
Crisis Chief Executive Leslie Morphy said: "The Crisis research throws the reliability of these figures into doubt.
"We found widespread gatekeeping in our sample, meaning numbers of applications were kept low, but homeless people were not given the help they needed.
"Particularly during these tough economic times, councils must be helping all those who are homeless and approach them, rather than hiding behind legal distinctions."
According to the law and Government guidance, everyone who is officially recognised as homeless is entitled, at a minimum, to advice and assistance from their local council to prevent and resolve their homelessness. Some people who meet ‘priority need' criteria are, in addition, entitled to accommodation (3).
The Government has emphasised that work to prevent or resolve homelessness "should not be targeted exclusively towards households judged likely to meet the ‘priority need' test".
But No one's priority revealed that this is widespread practice, with councils using the test as an excuse not to give single homeless people the minimum levels of advice and assistance to which they are entitled.
Crisis recommendations
- Treat all homeless people according to the law
All homeless people who approach their local authority should have the opportunity to see a housing officer, have the process clearly explained, make a homelessness application (5) and receive advice to resolve their circumstances. We need a culture change to ensure homeless people are treated with respect and empathy.
A proactive approach to preventing and resolving homelessness, which does not simply focus on all those who fit the ‘priority need' criteria, is essential for the Government and Mayor of London to meet their targets of ending rough sleeping by 2012 (6).
- Provide proper resources
Crisis understands the housing pressures and funding constraints local authorities face and the temptation to alleviate these by focusing only on those deemed in ‘priority need'. We would therefore like to see an increase in the homelessness prevention funding available for local authorities and action taken to ensure prevention funding is used to help all homeless people whether or not they are in ‘priority need'.
- Reform the law and expand the safety net
Even if the law were always correctly applied, many single homeless people would still not get the help they need, so Crisis welcomed the Government pledge last year to review the criteria for what help is given to people when they become homeless.
The Government should introduce a new duty on local authorities to prevent the homelessness of all who approach them and to offer emergency accommodation to those who need it whilst providing meaningful advice and assistance to address their housing need. For some this might mean social housing, but in many instances the best solution might be mediation or relationship support, assistance accessing the private rented sector, a hostel place or supported accommodation. Such solutions need not be expensive but can be vital for ensuring a person does not end up experiencing the horror of homelessness.
Background information
Crisis is the national charity for single homeless people. We are dedicated to ending homelessness by delivering life-changing services and campaigning for change.
See Crisis worked with a respected peer research organisation to send nine ‘mystery shoppers' to five different local authorities in London - two inner and three outer boroughs - during a three-week period in April 2009. In all 45 visits were made, nine to each council. Each mystery shopper had experienced homelessness in the past and was involved in developing the background stories presented, which reflected real life experiences. Their scenarios included a 17-year-old girl who left her mother's home after unwanted sexual attention from her mother's partner and was no longer able to stay on her friend's sofa and has no income; a man in his 40s, homeless due to an illegal eviction after the death of his mother, with mental health problems; a man in his 30s who had recently made redundant and is rough sleeping.
To receive or apply for emergency accommodation from a local council, a homeless person must complete a homelessness application. The council has to accept a homelessness application from any person who is legally in the UK except for people whose age, learning disability or illness means they cannot understand the application process. It is up to the council to decide whether a person is able to understand the application process. Crisis has given the councils the benefit of the doubt when assessing whether the mystery shopper would eventually have been allowed to make a homelessness application. Where a shopper was encouraged to return in a reasonable timespan and positive indications were given that an application could then be made, we have counted this in the council's favour.
