New cross-government approach could prevent homelessness for ‘significant’ proportion of population, report shows

Homelessness prevention could be ‘achievable’ for the most high-risk groups; care leavers, prison leavers and survivors of domestic abuse within the next Parliament, according to an All-Party Parliamentary Group for Ending Homelessness (APPGEH) report, launched today in Parliament.

The APPGEH, set up with the support of Crisis, the national charity for homeless people, is now urging the Government to recognise the growing emergency of homelessness and establish a joined up, cross-government strategy to specifically tackle homelessness prevention among the identified groups.

Crucially, the report finds that with so many of these people already on the radar of police, local authorities, prisons and social services, it is ‘inexcusable’ that they should fall through the net, yet they continue to do so: 

• One third of care leavers become homeless in the first two years immediately after they leave care and 25% of all homeless people have been in care at some point in their lives

• In 2016, 90% of women in refuges were reported to have housing needs and in 2015/16, 6,550 people became homeless because of a violent relationship breakdown, accounting for 11% of all homeless acceptances. In 2015, 35% of female rough sleepers left their homes due to domestic violence

• In 2014, 20% of prisoners said they had no accommodation to go to on release and there are many barriers which can make finding accommodation on release difficult

The report, resulting from a year of research and consultation with experts and those with lived experience of homelessness, recommends government departments work in partnership to audit existing policies and design programmes to specifically support care leavers, prison leavers and survivors of domestic violence.

As the Government has committed to putting prevention at the heart of its future working, with the Homelessness Reduction Act and a manifesto commitment to launch a Homelessness Reduction Taskforce, the report says there is an opportunity to bring together national policies and local frontline work to prevent and end homelessness for these cohorts for good.

Neil Coyle MP and joint co-chair of the APPGEH said:

“A local authority should know exactly when a care leaver or prison leaver is making the transition from institutional life to independence and should be ready and prepared to step in at that stage. Similarly, survivors of domestic violence should be given a crime reference number as soon as they make a domestic violence report to the police.

“However, many survivors feel unable or too afraid to even report abuse to the police in the first place. Time and again these people are getting lost despite, in many cases, receiving assistance from public bodies which should be a trigger to prevent their homelessness. Homelessness prevention for these groups is an achievable goal.”

Will Quince, MP and joint co-chair of the APPGEH, said:

“The APPGEH championed the recently passed Homelessness Reduction Act but more must be done and more resources made available. This report demonstrates that with focused and evidence-based interventions there is nothing inevitable about homelessness for care leavers, prison leavers and survivors of domestic violence. It also gives government and other decision makers carefully thought through recommendations for action.”

ENDS

For interview opportunities, case studies or to arrange a visit please contact eleanor.radford@crisis.org.uk // 0207 426 3891