Homelessness Statistics User Group 07 November 2014

Research on Placement Level Temporary Accommodation (HL3) Data from local authorities Note: based upon only those authorities who have provided HL3 extracts to the Scottish Government

Contents (TA=temporary accommodation) Introduction and aims Data quality (HL1, HL2, HL3) Use of TA (HL1 only) Household demographics (HL3 only) How many different TA placements does someone have? How long do households spend in TA? What types of TA are used, and for how long? Number of TA dwellings and bedrooms required Conclusions

Introduction and aims HL3 is used for: –monitoring of households placed in temporary accommodation –provides placement level monitoring and associated offers Also used to: –help local authorities complete three SHR ARC Indicators –share best practice with SHBVN This presentation summarises Paper 2Paper 2 (Available at: Aims of the research: –To look at quality of HL3 information supplied by local authorities –To showcase the uses of this HL3 data.

How accurate do you think HL1 records the use of TA. Is it ? a)Less than 20%, b)21 to 40% c)41 to 60% d)61 to 80% e)81 to 100% From HL1, what proportion of applicants require TA ? Is it ? a)Less than 20% b)21 to 40% c)41 to 60% d)61 to 80% e)81 to 100%

From HL3, what proportion of applicants have >=3 TA placements? Is it ? a)Less than 2% b)3 to 5% c)6 to 8% d)9 to 11% e)More than 11% From HL3, what proportion of all TA dwellings are 1 bed dwellings. Is it ? a)Less than 61% b)61 to 70% c)71 to 80% d)81 to 90% e)More than 90%

Data quality (HL1 / HL2 / HL3) Are all placements in the HL3 correctly recorded as accommodation arranged by the local authority in the HL1? –Yes, 100% accuracy in Inverclyde –No, 0% accuracy in West Lothian 5 authorities, that have filled in a HL3 return, who have an accuracy greater than 90% (Inverclyde, West Dunbartonshire, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries & Galloway and Dundee City). Expected that no. of households from HL3 matches no. of households from HL2 return in latest quarters

Use of temporary accommodation According to the HL1 only Two authorities require TA for half of their applicants (Dundee and West Dunbartonshire), Two authorities require TA for about two thirds of their applicants (Clacks and Dumfries & Galloway), and One authority requires TA for four fifths of their applicants (Inverclyde).

Household demographics (1) Merged HL1 homelessness data with HL3 temporary accomm. data The analysis has found that most homeless applicants are: –Aged (ranges between 51% in Clacks and 71% in Inverclyde). –47% of placements in TA in Clacks are aged 16-25, and there are a predominance of these younger people here than in the other authorities. They are male (60%). Some variation e.g. contrast between 70% male in Scottish Borders and 52% female in West Lothian.

Household demographics (2) They live on their own (73% have a household size of 1). But some authorities have household sizes of >5 going into TA. –On average 2% of the applicants had a household size of 5 or over –As high as 4.5% for West Lothian. Majority go first into LA ordinary dwellings in Renfrewshire (89%), Scottish Borders (82%) and West Dunbartonshire (76%). –local authority owned hostels in Aberdeen (64%) & Inverclyde (53%). –B&B in Clackmannanshire (53%), Fife (46%) and West Lothian (45%).

How many different TA placements does someone have ? For three authorities. On average: –72% of applicants have 1 placement in TA –18% of applicants have 2 placements in TA –10% of applicants have 3 or more placements in TA 3% of applicants have more than 6 placements in TA in Clacks (B&B? - See later) There is some variation across authorities

How long do households spend in temporary accommodation ? Placement durations calculated by counting no. of nights between the entry date and exit date. The average placements duration in TA is 15 weeks in Clacks (10 weeks in Dundee) and the median is 8 weeks (7 weeks in Dundee). Histogram suggests some placements will be in TA for as long as 70 weeks, whereas most will be in for about 8 weeks.

What types of temporary accommodation are used, and for how long? Clacks No. of hholds in TA fluctuated between a low of 122 on 1st July 2013 and a high of 147 in 16th August 2013 Increase in use of LA ordinary dwelling, and a corresponding decrease in use of private sector lease B&B stable: 50 hholds until Nov.13, then to 35 until start Mar.14 before rise again

What types of temporary accommodation are used, and for how long? Dundee Since Aug. 13 at any one time: –10 hholds in women’s refuge; –20 in Other Hostels; –40 in LA owned Hostels; –50 in Housing Association / RSL; –65 in LA ordinary dwelling; and –70 in RSL Hostels Sudden fall of 26 households between 17th and 18th Nov. 13 They do not use B&B HL3 data is matching HL2 only for Qtr 1st Jan. to 31st Mar.14

Number of temporary accommodation dwellings and bedrooms required Overall, approx. 13,000 household days needed in Clacks (24,000 in Dundee, 22,000 in D&G) 143 dwellings in Clacks would be 100% occupied (266 and 240 in Dundee and D&G respectively) Requirement for about 125 one bedroom dwellings (220 and 204 in Dundee and D&G respectively) About 83% to 86% of the temporary accommodation dwellings are required to be one bedroom properties - in the three authorities we have done a detailed assessment on.

Conclusions Members of the Homelessness Statistics User Group are invited to note the versatility of the HL3 data. In addition to providing information for the SHR, the HL3 can provide valuable information on: –Times spent in temporary accommodation (by placement, HL1 application reference or households); –The number of placements, and; –The total number of household days spent in temporary accommodation By linking with HL1, the HL3 can also provide information on the characteristics of those requiring temporary accommodation.

Contact Details Dr. Andrew Waugh Ian Morton