Friday, 26 July 2013

Low Income and Lack of Social Housing Feed Homelessness in Croydon

‘The reasons that Croydon has experienced a harder impact’ of homelessness ‘than other parts of the country are partly due to the housing market, and partly due to other factors such as levels of incomes and types of occupation in the borough.’ Three areas  of the Borough generated nearly 54% of homelessness in 2011/12 (whether or not households are officially accepted as homeless by the Council): Central Croydon (471 – 25%) and Thornton Heath (322 – 17%); and South Norwood (220 – n.12%)    

This information comes in replies to a group of 5 questions I submitted as a Freedom of Information request as follow up to the paper I submitted to the members of the Council's Scrutiny Sub-committee meeting on 18 June.

Question: ‘What is the ward spread of where homelessness households come from in which there are significant high incidence?’

‘We are not able to provide the homeless data requested broken down by ward as it not recorded in this way. The Freedom of Information (Fees and Appropriate Limit) Regulations 2004 specify an “appropriate limit” for the amount of time the council needs to spend undertaking that search.  If the council estimates that the time to taken to locate, retrieve and extract the information requested will exceed the appropriate limit, then under Section 12 of the Act, it is not obliged to comply with that request.

The appropriate limit currently specified by the Regulations for local authorities is £450. This represents the estimated cost of one person spending two and a half working days in locating, retrieving and extracting the information from where it is stored.  We estimate that reconciling individual homeless records into wards would exceed the appropriate limit. Therefore, we are unable to disclose the information you are seeking. 

However, please see attached data that we do hold which sets out information very similar to that requested - homeless approaches for the financial year 2011/12 broken down by housing allocation scheme management areas (which are very similar in geographical terms to wards).  The area codes and descriptions are set out under the data and there is a link below to the description of the different areas:


Question ‘Within wards with a high incidence of homeless are there smaller neighbourhoods in which there is a high incidence of homelessness?’

‘It would also not be possible to analyse the homeless data available to a smaller geography than ward without exceeding the time Freedom of Information time limit.  Please see response above to question’ above.  

Loss of Shorthold Tenancies

Nearly a quarter of officially accepted homelessness in Croydon in the year to 31 March was due to the ending of shorthold tenancies, up from 15.6% the previous year. Under the Freedom of Information request process I had asked for more detail on the figures submitted to the Scrutiny Sub-committee on 18 June. I specifically highlighted the need for the figures on homelessness caused by domestic violence or abuse, and the incidence of landlord and mortgage re-possession. The number of households found to be eligible, unintentionally homeless and in priority need has been dramatically rising: 1910/11 575, 1911/12 847 and 1912/13 911. Last year mortgage arrears were insignificant at 15 out of 911. Violent partnership breakdown is fluctuating: 52, 78, 83. The major cause of homelessness is from among those who have been sharing with parents, relatives and friends, where the arrangement breaks down: 1910/11 260 (45%); 1911/12 400 (47%); 1912/13 356 (39%).

The answer to my request states:

‘Local authorities report activity taken on homelessness to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) each quarter (known as P1E returns).  The DCLG publish most of these figures on their website at a national geography (i.e. England), and some of the information at a regional geography.  Unfortunately only a limited amount of homeless information is published at a local authority geography. The link below is for the DCLG live tables on homelessness
P1E returns capture the reason given for the loss of the last settled home by a homeless applicant.  The table below shows the reasons for homelessness provided by homeless households for the last three financial years.’ 

The table referred to is set out below.

Projected Increases in Homelessness

Question: ‘Does the projected increase for each of these categories take into account the effects of the growing pressures linked to lowering incomes, higher prices, job loss, unemployment and increased stresses due to the growing problems of coping with difficult circumstances?’

The reply: ‘The projection of underlying homelessness demand set out in the chart in paragraph 2.11 of the Scrutiny Sub-Committee report uses a compound annual growth rate calculation applied to the number of households accepted as homeless by the council each year over the period 2007/8 to 2010/11.  Underlying homelessness demand should capture homelessness arising from the credit crunch and economic slowdown, and as a result of measures introduced to reduce the budget deficit over that period.’ 

Special Factors in Croydon

Question ‘What are the special factors that have led to the significant increase in homelessness in the past two years compared with other parts of the country mentioned in para. 2.12. How much of this was due to the destruction of homes in the 2011 riot?’

‘The reasons that Croydon has experienced a harder impact than other parts of the country are partly due to the housing market, and partly due to other factors such as levels of incomes and types of occupation in the borough. Paragraph 2.4 of the report sets out these factors, however, the relevant sentences of paragraph 2.4 is set out below:

“Croydon has a smaller social housing* stock compared to other boroughs (17% of housing stock) and the council relies on the private rented sector to meet housing need and is therefore vulnerable to changes in the housing market. The initial stages of welfare reform, reduction of local reference rents to the 30th percentile of market rents and the prospect of direct payments to tenants, together with changing market conditions has led to the withdrawal of many private landlords from letting to benefit claimants. There has been increasing competition for private rented housing from households unable to access owner occupied housing, as well as from local authorities and other housing providers looking to source accommodation in Croydon due to cheaper rents and good transport connections. Information about household incomes, occupations, evictions and repossessions in Croydon also strongly suggest that the borough’s residents living in market housing are more vulnerable to homelessness due to economic changes. These factors mean that Croydon has been less able to absorb the impact of increasing homelessness and has faced significant challenges in sourcing new private rented supply which in the recent past has been vital in helping prevent homelessness and reducing the need to provide temporary accommodation for homeless households.”

103 households were displaced and required housing as a result of the riots in August 2011.  

*Social housing” includes council and housing association rented homes.

  

BC07
BC08
BC09
BC10
BC
11
B
C
12
B
C
13
BC14
BC15
BC16
BS25
BS26
BS27
BS28
BN01
BN02
BN03
BN04
BN 05
BN06
BS17
BS18
BS19
BS20
BS21
BS22
BS23
BS24
HVAL
OUT of borough
T
O
T
A
L
s
EVICTED BY PARENTS
55
3
0
3
26
71
15
16
0
0
0
6
0
57
15
0
13
0
69
0
7
13
0
9
3
14
3
1
2
24
425
EVICTED BY OTHER RELS/FRIENDS
53
0
0
0
11
73
24
8
4
0
0
2
1
25
6
0
11
0
74
0
1
15
0
10
2
5
3
0
0
41
369
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
13
0
0
0
2
23
4
4
0
0
0
1
0
6
3
0
4
0
13
0
1
2
0
5
0
2
0
0
0
50
133
NON-VIOL REL BREAKDOWN
2
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
4
1
0
0
0
3
0
0
1
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
2
21
MORTGAGE REPO
4
0
0
0
1
4
2
1
0
0
0
1
0
3
0
0
0
0
4
0
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
24
ARREARS - COUNCIL
0
0
0
0
3
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
12
ARREARS - HSG ASSOC
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
ARREARS - PRIVATE
11
1
0
0
5
20
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
6
0
17
1
1
2
0
2
0
1
0
1
0
3
77
EVICTED BY RESID LANDLORD
5
0
0
0
1
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
1
0
6
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
3
25
TERM ASSURED
10
1
0
0
3
12
4
1
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
0
2
0
12
1
1
4
0
3
0
0
1
0
0
2
63
TERM ASSURED SHORTHOLD
23
0
0
2
5
36
11
1
1
0
0
1
0
4
10
0
4
0
27
0
0
9
0
3
0
2
1
0
0
8
148
TERM BARE LICENCE
1
0
0
0
1
9
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
3
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
2
24
LEFT ARMED FORCES
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
2
LOST TIED ACCOMM
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
3
ILLEGAL EVICTION
1
0
0
0
1
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
10
LEFT PRIVATE - OTHER
8
0
0
0
1
6
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
2
0
0
0
3
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
29
LEFT INST / CARE
5
0
0
2
2
16
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
1
0
9
0
1
0
0
2
0
0
1
1
0
16
60
SPLIT HOUSEHOLD
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
REFUGEE/ASYLUM SEEKERS
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
9
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
12
EMERGENCY
3
0
0
0
1
28
34
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
8
0
22
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
101
RACIAL HARASSMENT
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
OTHER HARASSMENT
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
3
11
LEFT HOSTEL
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
6
UNREASONABLE TO OCCUPY
3
0
0
0
2
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
13
UNAUTH OCC / SQUATTING
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
LBC/HA EVICTED MANAG REASONS
1
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
6
NFA
2
0
0
0
0
11
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
4
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
22
NASS Approach-Croydon
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
NASS Approach-O/S London
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
TOTALS EXCL OTHER/SNAP & WDP CASES
202
5
0
7
67
335
106
35
5
0
0
14
1
115
48
0
52
0
286
3
15
58
0
37
7
29
11
3
2
164
1607
OTHER
18
0
0
0
2
134
13
2
0
0
0
0
1
8
7
0
3

36
0
0
12
0
7
1
3
1
0
0
22
270
SNAP Cases
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
WDP Cases
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
TOTAL
220
5
0
7
69
471
119
37
5
0
0
14
2
123
55
0
55
0
322
3
15
70
0
44
8
32
12
3
2
186
1879




Area code
Description
BC07
SOUTH NORWOOD
BC08
WOODSIDE
BC09
WEST THORNTON/BROAD GREEN
BC10
ASHBURTON
BC11
ADDISCOMBE
BC12
CENTRAL CROYDON
BC13
WEST CROYDON
BC14
SHIRLEY & HEATHFIELD
BC15
SHRUBLANDS
BC16
MONKS ORCHARD
BE25
MONKS HILL ESTATE
BE26
SELSDON & FORESTDALE
BE27
FIELDWAY ESTATE
BE28
NEW ADDINGTON
BN01
UPPER NORWOOD
BN02
GREEN LANE ESTATE
BN03
NORBURY
BN04
SOUTH NORWOOD HILL
BN05
THORNTON HEATH
BN06
SELHURST
BS17
WADDON
BS18
SOUTH CROYDON
BS19
CROHAM
BS20
PURLEY
BS21
SANDERSTEAD
BS22
COULSDON
BS23
KENLEY
BS24
OLD COULSDON
HVAL
VALLEY PARK
OTH
OTHER
OUT
OUT OF BOROUGH

Main reason for loss of last settled home for applicant households found to be eligible, unintentionally homeless and in priority need during
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
1. Parents no longer willing or able to accommodate
127
214
195
2. Other relatives or friends no longer willing or able to accommodate
133
186
161
3. Non-violent breakdown of relationship with partner
6
10
15
4. Violence



a. Violent breakdown of relationship, involving partner
52
76
63
b. Violent breakdown of relationship involving associated persons
0
0
0
c. Racially motivated violence
0
0
0
d. Other forms of violence
0
0
0
5. Harassment, threats or intimidation



a. Racially motivated harassment
0
0
0
b. Other forms of harassment
6
4
5
6. Mortgage arrears (repossession or other loss of home)
7
19
15
7. Rent arrears on:



a. Local authority or other or other public sector dwellings
0
1
0
b. Registered social landlord or other housing association dwellings
1
2
2
c. Private sector dwellings
23
32
48
8. Loss of rented or tied accommodation due to:



a. Termination of assured shorthold tenancy
88
132
227
b. Reasons other than termination of assured shorthold tenancy
18
29
52
9. Required to leave National Asylum Support Service accommodation
0
0
1
10. Left an institution or LA care



a. Left prison/remand
0
0
0
b. Left hospital
0
0
0
c. Left other institution or LA care
14
9
18
11.Other reason for loss of last settled home



a. Left HM-Forces
0
2
0
b. Other reason
100
131
109
12. Total applicant households
575
847
911


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