The homelessness monitor: England 2019

1 Xxxxxxx The homelessness monitor: England 2019. Suzanne Fitzpatrick, Hal Pawson, Glen Bramley, Jenny Wood, Beth Watts, Mark Stephens & Janice Blenkinsopp. Institute for Social Policy, Housing and Equalities Research (I-SPHERE), and The Urban Institute, Heriot-Watt University; City Futures Research Centre, University of New South Wales May 2019. ii The homelessness monitor: England 2019 iii The homelessness monitor The homelessness monitor is a longitudinal study providing an independent analysis of the homelessness impacts of recent economic and policy developments across the United Kingdom.

2 Separate reports are produced for each of the UK nations. The homelessness monitor: This eighth annual report updates our account of how homelessness stands in England in 2019, or as close to 2019 as data availability allows. It also highlights emerging trends and forecasts some of the likely future changes, identifying the England 2019. developments likely to have the most significant impacts on homelessness . Suzanne Fitzpatrick, Hal Pawson, Glen Bramley, Jenny Wood, Beth Watts, Mark Stephens & Janice Blenkinsopp. Institute for Social Policy, Housing and Equalities Research (I-SPHERE), and The Urban Institute, Heriot-Watt University; City Futures Research Centre, University of New South Wales May 2019.

3 Iv The homelessness monitor: England 2019 v About Crisis Acknowledgements Crisis is the national charity for homeless people. We help people directly This report was commissioned by Crisis, and funded by Crisis and the Joseph out of homelessness , and campaign for the social changes needed to solve it Rowntree Foundation (JRF), and our thanks go to Sophie Boobis, Matthew altogether. We know that together we can end homelessness . Downie and Dr Francesca Albanese at Crisis, and Aleks Collingwood, Darren Baxter and Chris Goulden at JRF, for all of their support with this work.

4 In addition, we are extremely grateful to all of the key informants from the statutory and voluntary sector organisations across England who found time in their busy About the authors schedules to help us with this, and to all 167 local authorities who completed the questionnaire. Our thanks also to Katie Colliver for her invaluable assistance with editing and formatting. Disclaimer: All views and any errors contained in this report are the responsibility Professor Suzanne Fitzpatrick, Professor Glen Bramley, Dr Beth Watts, Dr Jenny of the authors.

5 The views expressed should not be assumed to be those of Crisis, Wood & Dr Janice Blenkinsopp are all based at the Institute for Social Policy, JRF or of any of the key informants who assisted with this work. Housing, and Equalities Research (I-SPHERE), and Professor Mark Stephens at The Urban Institute, at Heriot-Watt University. Professor Hal Pawson is based at the City Futures Research Centre, University of New South Wales. Crisis head office 66 Commercial Street London E1 6LT. Tel: 0300 636 1967. Fax: 0300 636 2012. Crisis 2019. ISBN 978-1-78519-061-2.

6 Crisis UK (trading as Crisis). Registered Charity Numbers: E&W1082947, SC040094. Company Number: 4024938. vi The homelessness monitor: England 2019 vii Contents Figures and Tables Figures and Tables vii Chapter 2. Acronyms x Figure Changes in Real Median Annual Earnings, UK 2004-2018. 5. Foreword xi Figure Net additional dwellings, 2012/13 2017/18. 9. Executive summary xii Figure Homeowner mortgage arrears Q4 2015-Q4 2018 10. (percentage of balance outstanding). 1. Introduction 1 Figure Percentage changes in nominal and real house prices, 11. Introduction 1 September 2007 December 2018.

7 Scope of report 1 Figure House prices as a multiple of earnings, September 2007 13. Research methods 2 and December 2018. Causation and homelessness 2 Figure Annual percentage changes in real private rents, 15. Structure of report 3 2009/10-2017/18. Figure Private rents as a percentage of household incomes 15. 2. Economic factors that may impact on homelessness 4 Figure Private Landlord Possessions 16. in England Figure LHA/UC claims for housing assistance in the private rented 17. Introduction 4 sector (number). The broader economic context 4 Figure Affordable Housing supply and need estimates 19.

8 Housing demand and supply 8 Figure Social sector lettings to new tenants (thousands) 20. Access to home ownership 10 Figure "Through their allocations policies and practices, 21. Access to private rented housing 14 social landlords in my area (housing associations and, where Access to social and affordable rented housing 18 applicable, LAs) are making every effort to assist in preventing Key points 26 and relieving homelessness " (Respondent reactions to statement). 3. Government policies potentially impacting on 27 Figure "Changes in allocation policies applied by housing 23.

9 homelessness in England associations in my area over the past few years have made Introduction 27 it more difficult to prevent and relieve homelessness ". homelessness policies 27 (Respondent reactions to statement). Welfare policies 41 Figure "Post-2011 changes in eligibility rules and/or allocation 23. Key points 54 policies applied by my local authority have made it more difficult to prevent and relieve homelessness " (Respondent 4. homelessness trends in England 57 reactions to statement). Introduction 57 Figure "Affordability/financial capability checks are making it more 24.

10 Rough sleeping 57 difficult for homeless households to access social tenancies "Core homelessness " 61 in my area" (Respondent reactions to statement). Statutory homelessness 63 Figure Social landlord possession orders and repossessions 25. Wider forms of potential hidden homelessness 74 ( England ). Key points 80. Chapter 3. 5. Conclusions 82 Table Practitioner perceptions on the HRA - percentage 28. Appendix 1 Topic Guide (2018) 87 of respondents agreeing with statement Appendix 2 Local Authority Survey (2018) 89 Table Benefit Cap by English standard region in 2015 and 2018 48.