The number of homeless households in England went down 9.2 per cent between October and December last year, compared with the same period in 2019.
Figures published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government show that 62,250 households were initially assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness and owed a statutory homelessness duty.
On 31 December 2020, the number of households in temporary accommodation was up 8 per cent on the previous year to 95,370.
This increase was driven by a 45 per cent increase in single adult households and can be linked to the COVID-19 response measures, such as the ‘Everyone In’ initiative and the restriction on private rented sector evictions.
The LGA continues to call for a renewed focus on investing in homelessness prevention and restoration of welfare funding to at least £250 million a year.
Cllr David Renard, the LGA’s Housing Spokesperson, said: “Going forward, there remains a need for a renewed focus on investing in homelessness prevention services.
“This should include ensuring councils have the resources to support households at risk of homelessness, including restoration of welfare funding to at least £250 million a year, and a review of the Discretionary Housing Payment scheme.”
The figures were released as homeless charity Shelter called on the Prime Minister to honour his pledge to deliver a Renters’ Reform Bill, after more than a third of private renters surveyed by YouGov said they had been forced to live in dangerous or unhealthy conditions because they feared eviction if they complained to their landlord.