Homeless figures rise 25pc as funds fall

The number of homeless households in England has risen by a quarter in the last three years.

Some 50,290 families and individuals were homeless and in need of emergency accommodation in 2011/12, compared with 40,020 in 2009/10 – an increase of more than 25 per cent.

But despite the rise, spending on tackling homelessness fell from £213.7m to £199.8m between 2009/10 and 2010/11, data experts SSentif said.

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Local housing authorities have a legal duty to provide emergency accommodation for “priority need” groups left without a home.

They include households with dependent children, pregnant women, vulnerable people with a mental illness or physical disability, victims of domestic violence and people left homeless by disasters such as fire or flooding.

Last year alone saw 6,130 more households in England left homeless in 2011/12 – a rise of almost 14 per cent, according to SSentif.

Regionally, the highest percentage increase was the East of England, with the number of cases rising from 3,660 in 2009/10 to 5,270 in 2011/12 – a 44 per cent increase.

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The South East has seen a 38 per cent rise with 5,320 cases in 2011/12 compared with 3,870 in 2009/10.

London had a 34 per cent rise in the number of homeless households, to 12,720 cases in 2011/12 from 9,460 in 2009/10.

In the North, Sheffield was one of the worst hit with 1,383 homeless households an increase of 437 people (46 per cent) on 2009/10.

Leeds was also among the areas with the highest percentage increases in homeless households.

Judy Aldred, managing director of SSentif, said: “Whilst these figures are perhaps not surprising given the state of the economy, some of the results for specific councils are quite shocking.”