Counting and identifying homeless people living in HMOs and B&Bs Sheila Spencer Housing consultant 23rd April 2015

Findings of research in 2013 in the North East: the numbers Around 114 B&Bs and 14 private hostels in the 12 LAs in the North East 80 - 90% of clientele were non-statutory homeless Mostly self-referred Very difficult to identify how many single homeless people are in private unsupported temporary accommodation.

Methodology used for identifying the list We asked: Each LA homelessness / housing options service to identify the B&Bs and private hostels used or on a list for non-statutory homeless people Environmental Health / private sector teams for their list of HMOs and asked which were used most commonly by homeless people Housing Benefit for a list of B&Bs and HMOs they thought were used by homeless people – and for numbers accommodated in them and claiming HB – very few LAs could tell us Advice agencies where they thought homeless people were staying Homeless people about the places they knew about

Why is it such a tricky task? No-one is required to record who stays in B&Bs / private hostels – other than by agreement with a few local authorities, or for statutory homeless clients (and some young people leaving care) Not all B&Bs have to be registered as HMOs (not over 2 storeys or not more than 5 people) Not every HMO is registered as required by law Fine distinction between HMOs (could be bedsitters), private hostels, and B&Bs / guest houses Depends on Whether breakfast offered / provided or facilities to make it Whether owner lives on site Size of house / no of rooms offered for guests Who accom is occupied by – tourists and other holiday makers, contract workers, homeless people, people who live there for a while No solid definition of any of these terms other than for 2004 HMO legislation.

Are homeless people not counted by someone? Homelessness is counted through: P1E data – records number of presentations (decisions), number and details of those accepted as being owed a statutory duty, numbers placed in temporary accommodation as part of statutory duty Numbers placed in supported accommodation Rough sleeper count or estimate, and numbers reported and verified as rough sleeping For many single homeless, there is no record kept unless they have presented as homeless, and no record kept of outcome e.g. accommodated in B&B or private hostel.

Further information “Making best use of Private Hostels and Bed & Breakfast when accommodating homeless people” Sheila Spencer and Richard Corkhill, NERHG, 2013 http://youthhomelessnortheast.org.uk/no-second-night-out/ne-regional-homelessness-group/bed-breakfast-and-privately-run-hostels-report/ NEHTT Measuring Single Homelessness report and key points http://youthhomelessnortheast.org.uk/nehtt/measuring-single-homelessness-june-2013/