Govt pledges 'relentless focus' on homelessness

New homelessness falls by 20 per cent.

Tuesday, 13, Mar 2007 12:00

Tony Blair has welcomed news that new cases of homelessness have fallen by 20 per cent but warned there is no room for complacency.

Official figures show that 17,310 new households became homeless from October to December 2006, an annual fall of 20 per cent and considerably below the peak of 35,770 three years ago.

The number of people in temporary accommodation has also fallen below 90,000 for the first time since 2003.

Welcoming the results, Mr Blair pledged more efforts to reduce the number of people in temporary accommodation, warning there is "no room for complacency."

He set out targets to halve their number by 2010. The government will also aim to remove all 16 and 17-year-olds from bed and breakfasts.

"Given the misery and despair it causes, we will continue to bring a relentless focus to tackling homelessness," said Mr Blair.

Housing Minister Yvette Cooper added: "Ten years ago we committed to reducing the worst forms of homelessness. We have successfully reduced rough sleeping by more than two thirds and families with children no longer live long-term in bed and breakfast hostels.

"But we now face new challenges and need new solutions. Last week I announced how we are going to support young people who find themselves without a home. It is innovative schemes like supported lodgings that are going to help us continue to see reductions in homelessness like we've seen today."

Shelter challenged the government to tackle the backlog of nearly 90,000 households in temporary accommodation.

"If the government is serious about offering these children the chance of a brighter future, it must commit to building 20,000 extra social rented homes in the next Comprehensive Spending Review," said Adam Sampson, chief executive.