AQW 20721/17-22


Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry


Tabled Date: 22/06/2021
Answered On Date: 06/07/2021
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail the number of people registered as homeless in each constituency in each of the last five years.


Answer:
Housing Statistics are regularly published at www.communities-ni.gov.uk/topics/housing-statistics. Since 2018 the homelessness bulletin has included a local breakdown of the number of households accepted as homeless. The requested data is not available by Constituency but is available at a Local Government level.
In the interests of clarity I include a summary below with additional data for the years before 2018. The Housing Executive has statutory responsibility for responding to Homelessness and has provided this information:
*Households accepted as statutorily homeless
Council Area
2016/17
2017/18
2018/19
2019/20
2020/21
Antrim & Newtownabbey
1,029
904
1,052
936
952
Ards & North Down
986
1,160
1,156
947
931
Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon
542
593
790
694
608
Belfast
3,593
3,940
3,790
3,325
2,686
Causeway Coast & Glens
789
716
689
690
579
Derry & Strabane
1,259
1,203
1,315
1,222
1146
Fermanagh & Omagh
418
432
467
467
353
Lisburn & Castlereagh
928
675
716
756
552
Mid & East Antrim
1,003    
997
1,088
1,051
928
Mid Ulster
481
468
542
388
362
Newry, Mourne & Down
861
789
907
847
792
Total
11,889
11,877
12,512
11,323
9,889
*In order to be “accepted” as statutorily homeless, a household must meet the four tests of:
• Eligibility
• Homelessness
• Priority Need
• Intentionality
Any household that meets these four tests will be accepted as a “Full Duty Applicant” and will be owed a full housing duty. The full housing duty includes ensuring that accommodation is made available for the household as well as the provision of temporary accommodation where necessary and assistance with the protection of the household’s belongings.