Homelessness, October-December 2008

Statistics on Homelessness in Wales include data for the quarter October to December 2008. The latest release updates the statistics previously released on 14th January 2009.

The key points from the latest release are:

• In general the number of households accepted as homeless have fallen since the end of 2003-04. This trend has continued during the October to December quarter 2008, with 1,432 households accepted as homeless. This is a fall of 6 per cent from the previous quarter and 4 per cent from the same quarter a year earlier.
• Following a peak in mid 2005, the use of temporary accommodation had generally been falling. Over the last year though, use has increased slightly, by 4 per cent, with 2,686 households in temporary accommodation at the end of December 2008. However this is down by 9 per cent from the end of September 2008.
• By the end of December 2008, there were 266 households in Bed and Breakfast accommodation. Following a sharp decrease since mid 2004, the use of B&B accommodation increased slightly for the best part of 2008. However the number of households in B&B at the end of the December quarter 2008 had fallen again and was 20 per cent less than the previous quarter.
• The number of families with children in Bed and Breakfast accommodation continues to fall representing only 8 per cent of all households in B&B accommodation by the end of December 2008. This compares with 15 per cent for the previous year.

Contact

Tel: 029 2082 5055
E-mail: stats.housing@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Next update

June 2009 (provisional - to be confirmed on the 'Due Out Soon' page)