Homelessness stats

The homelessness stats for April 2025 to March 2026 were published on Wednesday.  These show a broadly consistent picture of numbers of applicants, preventions, an acceptances.  There are slight reductions in the use of TA , and in B&B/hotels.  However, there are still 2,187 households in the latter; and 6,201 households were in TA.  There are proportionately higher numbers of ethnic minority applicants for homelessness assistance, who make up 11% of applicants (and 6% of the population); and female lead applicants made up 63% of applications.  The most common cause of homelessness was relationship breakdown (by some way).

All of this goes to show again how significant the review provisions could and should be to applicants in terms of exercising their rights – see my previous post on the paucity of the exercise of rights to request a review.  There must also be the possibility of an Imam-style JR to a failure to deal with TA issues.  It is surprising (or perhaps not given the lack of  legal aid certificates issued) that there has not been such a challenge with so many applicants in TA.  In that regard, I will write up the most recent JR on this issue next week, but see R(Griffiths-Fowell) v Birmingham CC [2026] EWCA Civ 920, in which my rather lovely colleague, Zia Nabi, acted (interest to declare: Zia is in my Chambers and led me in Kyle v Coventry CC)

These statistics suggest again that there is a real need for the Welsh housing law masterclasses to pursue the rights of applicants – sign up here!  You won’t be disappointed …