Homeless family out-of-area
Lack of data and understanding regarding the distance and impact of out-of-area placements for homeless families.
Strongest theme matches
Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.
Committee recommendation
100match
#17 - MHCLG lacks crucial data on distance of out-of-area placements for homeless families
We asked MHCLG how far away from their home area these families were living. It replied that it does not have the data to understand the exact figures involved, although it is aware that some families are being placed at a considerable distance. MHCLG told us that it agreed with the recommendation in the National Audit Office report...
Matched on
terms: area, homeles, out
Committee recommendation
100match
#16 - Out-of-area homeless placements significantly increasing, causing disruption for households, particularly children.
For a variety of reasons, including lack of housing supply and suitability of accommodation, some local authorities struggle to place households within their local area. MHCLG acknowledges that placing households out of area can cause disruption, especially to children, including challenges for their education and social isolation affecting their health and support needs. The number of households placed...
Matched on
terms: area, homeles, out
Committee recommendation
100match
#3 - Improve MHCLG data on out-of-area placements to encourage better local authority coordination.
Too many people’s lives are disrupted by being placed in temporary accommodation outside of their local area. For a variety of reasons, including lack of housing supply and suitability of accommodation, some local authorities struggle to place households in temporary accommodation within their local area. Over the period 2018–19 to 2023–24, the number of households placed out of...
Matched on
terms: area, homeles, out
Committee recommendation
100match
#10 - Require local authorities to report quarterly on out-of-area placements and publish H-CLIC data.
The Government must improve the quality of data on local authorities’ use of out-of-area placements. It should require all local authorities to report to the Department quarterly on instances of out-of-area placements as part of their H-CLIC data report, including the distance of placements, why out-of-area placements were used, and the type of accommodation used for households placed...
Matched on
terms: area, homeles, out
Committee recommendation
100match
#9 - Out-of-area temporary accommodation placements cause devastating impacts and lack reliable data.
Out-of-area temporary accommodation placements have a devastating impact on families, leaving them far from their extended family, friends, and support network, and causing disruption to children’s education. There is a lack of reliable data on how out-of-area placements are currently used, as local authorities are not required to report detailed information to the Department on the outcomes for...
Matched on
terms: area, family, out
Committee recommendation
99match
#12 - Update Code of Guidance requiring local authorities to notify host authorities before out-of-area placements.
We are deeply concerned to hear that several local authorities may be falling short of their legal duties regarding out-of-area placements, particularly the requirement to notify the host authority after placements are completed. There is currently no requirement for local authorities to notify a prospective host authority before it makes an out-of-area placement, meaning opportunities to mitigate the...
Matched on
terms: area, out
Committee recommendation
98match
#10 - 1st Report - Black people’s experiences of homelessness
Out of area placements can remove vulnerable people from their support networks at a time when they most need them and have a devastating impact on people’s healthcare and education. Reports of the disproportionate use of these placements for Black households is concerning. Failures of local authorities to fulfil their section 208 duties in notifying the new host...
Matched on
terms: area, homeles, out
Committee recommendation
94match
#11 - 1st Report - Black people’s experiences of homelessness
We welcome the government’s plans to address poor practice in the use of out of area placements. Those plans should include measures to address the disproportionate use of these placements for Black households, including through the recording and publication of data by ethnicity and gender. (Recommendation, Paragraph 64)
Matched on
terms: area, homeles, out
Committee recommendation
91match
#11 - Issue guidance discouraging out-of-area property acquisition and consult on placement distance limits.
The Government must issue guidance to discourage local authorities from acquiring properties outside of their authority boundaries to use as temporary accommodation. Where this is not possible, the local authority must notify prospective host local authorities before it purchases any properties out-of-area. The Government should consult on introducing a limit on the distance of all out-of-area placements. (Recommendation,...
Matched on
terms: area, out
Committee recommendation
91match
#18 - Data on reasons for out-of-area placements is essential for understanding and change.
We disagree with the Department’s view that data on the reasons for out- of-area placements are not needed. While data collection itself may not directly lead to improvements, it is essential to fully understand the nature and scale of the problem in order to effect meaningful change. (Conclusion, Paragraph 45)
Matched on
terms: area, out
Committee recommendation
91match
#17 - Out-of-area placements traumatise children, despite some local authorities limiting numbers.
Too many children are being sent many miles from home, which has a traumatic and lasting impact on their lives. We were saddened to hear that a care-experienced young person had chosen not to pursue higher education as a direct result of being placed out of area. However, there are some strong examples of good practice and some...
Matched on
terms: area, out
PFD report
89match
Amanda Briley
Lack of commissioned services for autism management and local inpatient provision forces out-of-area mental health placements, hindering family contact and local support.
Matched on
terms: area, family, out
Committee recommendation
89match
#29 - Home Office improved engagement with local authorities on asylum accommodation and move-on support.
Since 2020, the Home Office has increasingly used hotels to accommodate asylum seekers due to rising demand and a shortage of alternative accommodation. The previous Public Accounts Committee had raised concerns about the Home Office’s lack of effective engagement with local authorities regarding the impact of such accommodation on local areas.102 We asked the Home Office how it...
Matched on
terms: area, homeles, out
Committee recommendation
87match
#20 - Collect DfE data distinguishing out-of-area child placements by reasons of interest versus capacity.
The Department for Education should collect data on the proportion of children who are placed out of area because it is in their own interests compared with those placed out of area due to capacity issues, so that the situation can be properly monitored and any improvements can be recognised. (Recommendation, Paragraph 47)
Matched on
terms: area, out
Committee recommendation
87match
#19 - Publish national children's social care sufficiency strategy and mandate local out-of-area placement reduction plans.
The Department for Education must publish a national sufficiency strategy for children’s social care as a matter of urgency and publish data on the extent to which sufficiency requirements are being met on an annual basis. It should also require all local authorities to develop and publish strategies for reducing the number of out-of-area placements and work with...
Matched on
terms: area, out
PFD report
85match
Paul Williams
Homelessness, forced family separation, and prolonged waiting times for public housing severely impacted mental health, contributing to the deceased's deteriorating condition.
Matched on
terms: family, homeles, out
Committee recommendation
83match
#18 - Anecdotal evidence indicates local authorities are 'swapping' homeless households between areas
We enquired whether some local authorities were effectively “swapping” households with other local authorities. MHCLG replied that it received a lot of anecdotal evidence that this was happening, and that such an approach was clearly wrong given that it is better for people to stay as close as possible to their home. We challenged MHCLG on whether some...
Matched on
terms: area, homeles
PFD report
81match
Shahzadi Khan
National mental health bed shortages led to out-of-area placements with poor communication and discharge planning. There was also a lack of awareness regarding menopause as a factor in mental health deterioration.
Matched on
terms: area, out
Committee recommendation
81match
#19 - MHCLG recognises need for stronger data on household placements, improving information sharing
MHCLG accepted that this is an area where it needs stronger and more transparent data. We asked if this was something that MHCLG’s homelessness case level information collection (H-CLIC) dataset could help with. It explained that, while joining up data from across local authorities was hard, and the relatively small number of people involved presented some data protection...
Matched on
terms: area, homeles, out
Committee recommendation
78match
#19 - 1st Report - Black people’s experiences of homelessness
We welcome the focus on young people in the National Plan to End Homelessness, not least given the elevated risks young people can face through abuse, family breakdown and care leaving. Ensuring young people can get the right support at an early stage to prevent them experiencing homelessness will be vital to the success of the government’s homelessness...
Matched on
terms: family, homeles
Committee recommendation
78match
#15 - 1st Report - Black people’s experiences of homelessness
We welcome the government’s programmes to increase access to mental health support for people in the homelessness system. We would like to see improved access to referral pathways between health and housing services in areas with high levels of Black homelessness. In these areas, health, mental health and hospital discharge policies should include clear responsibilities for identifying homelessness...
Matched on
terms: area, homeles
Committee recommendation
74match
#30 - Home Office competition for accommodation exacerbates local authority homelessness costs and housing pressures.
The National Audit Office reported that the increase in asylum decisions had placed greater pressure on local authorities to support refugees in finding accommodation and increased the risk of homelessness and rough sleeping.107 The previous Public Accounts Committee also raised concerns about the Home Office paying higher rates for limited rental accommodation and therefore driving up rents. The...
Matched on
terms: homeles, out
PFD report
73match
Damion Stanley Joseph Henson
A homeless unit, housing drug users, lacked 24-hour supervision, allowing unauthorized individuals to enter out of hours, thereby increasing risks in a facility not designed for drug rehabilitation.
Matched on
terms: homeles, out
PFD report
73match
Alan Stanfield Browning
A vulnerable patient was discharged from a care facility without family notification or proper accommodation arrangements, specifically on a Friday, highlighting a lack of robust discharge planning.
Matched on
terms: family, out
PFD report
73match
Anthony Watson
A critically ill mental health patient could not access immediate inpatient treatment due to a severe lack of local beds and distant, unappealing out-of-area options, exacerbated by age-segregated units.
Matched on
terms: area, out
Committee recommendation
73match
#13 - 1st Report - Black people’s experiences of homelessness
In bringing forward the “duty to collaborate” the government should set out a clear ambition to tackle the poorer outcomes including increased risks of homelessness that minority ethnic groups experience in leaving the care of public services. The government should ensure that such a proposal is developed with input from Black communities, Black-led organisations, and Black individuals with...
Matched on
terms: homeles, out
Committee recommendation
70match
#14 - Provide update on connecting homelessness data with public services and improve related data collection.
The Government should provide an update on its efforts to connect homelessness data with data from other public services, including health data, to take a more holistic approach to understanding the drivers of homelessness in England. It should also consider how it may improve data 46 collection and reporting of the housing circumstances of A&E admissions and GP...
Matched on
terms: homeles
PFD report
69match
Gareth Slater
Discharge planning failed due to clinical impasses, resulting in no care plan, insufficient family involvement, inadequate independent living assessment, and an unsuitable unfurnished flat.
Matched on
terms: family, out
PFD report
69match
Mary Gwanyama
A vulnerable patient was prematurely discharged into homelessness from a mental health unit without proper planning, medical review, or adequate risk assessment, failing to follow Care Programme Approach guidelines.
Matched on
terms: homeles, out
PFD report
69match
Tobias Mannering-Jones
Long mental health waiting lists, inadequate support and unstable housing for homeless youth, especially LGBTQIA+, contribute to vulnerability and exploitation risks, compounded by poor inter-agency coordination.
Matched on
terms: homeles, out
Committee recommendation
69match
#5 - 1st Report - Black people’s experiences of homelessness
The government needs to increase and sustain Local Housing Allowance rates at the 30th percentile of local private rents. Doing so will help to prevent people from being pushed into homelessness due to private rent increases, will immediately unlock more homes to help councils move families and individuals on from temporary accommodation, and help stop people from becoming...
Matched on
terms: homeles
LGO / SPSO decision
68match
21-011-385 - Brighton & Hove City Council
Summary: Miss X complains the Council delayed deciding her mother’s homelessness application and placed her family in unsuitable accommodation. Miss X says this caused her and her family significant distress and caused them to live in unsuitable accommodation for longer than necessary. The Ombudsman finds fault with the Council for failing to explore whether Miss X’s mother was...
Matched on
terms: family, homeles, out
LGO / SPSO decision
68match
25-000-676 - West Lindsey District Council
Summary: Mrs X complained on behalf of her husband about the Council’s actions when they became at risk of homelessness. I find no fault in the Council’s actions leading up to the family’s eviction, nor in its actions in trying to secure suitable temporary accommodation. However, I do find fault in the family being placed in hotel accommodation...
Matched on
terms: family, homeles, out
Committee recommendation
66match
#18 - 1st Report - Black people’s experiences of homelessness
Government strategies to end rough sleeping must take into account that women are more likely to manage their homelessness by making themselves less visible. Using this as a coping strategy can expose them to further risks. More hidden forms of homelessness, including less visible rough sleeping, merit attention and resources equal to that given to more visible forms...
Matched on
terms: homeles
Committee recommendation
66match
#12 - 1st Report - Black people’s experiences of homelessness
Statutory services should be required to play a stronger role in tackling homelessness. We welcome the focus in the National Plan to End Homelessness on switching from crisis response to prevention of homelessness and the proposed “duty to collaborate” to help achieve that ambition. The lack of an explicit link between the proposed “duty to collaborate” and tackling...
Matched on
terms: homeles
Committee recommendation
66match
#33 - Record levels of homelessness among families and children strain local authority finances
It is a source of national shame that cases of homelessness, particularly among families and children, are at record levels and continue to rise. This is placing considerable strain on the finances of local authorities. We repeat the findings of our report of earlier this year, England’s Homeless Children: The crisis in temporary accommodation. (Conclusion, Paragraph 120)
Matched on
terms: homeles
IMB recommendation
65match
Birmingham (2021)
What will the minister do to ensure that prisoners on remand, on short sentences, reaching the end of their sentence and those released out of their home area who are not on probation are given access to accommodation on release, as at present, as this will not be covered by the new contract with Nacro?
Matched on
terms: area, out
LGO / SPSO decision
65match
23-015-333 - London Borough of Southwark
Summary: Miss X complained the Council has provided temporary accommodation that is unsuitable for her and her family. We found fault by the Council because it did not consider its legal duty to find Miss X and her family suitable temporary accommodation, and they remain in unsuitable accommodation. The Council agreed to apologise and make a payment to...
Matched on
terms: family, out
IMB recommendation
64match
Cardiff (2021)
The Board was pleased to hear that support for men who are leaving prison without settled accommodation is being extended until April 2022. However, there appears to be a lack of available and suitable accommodation, particularly in certain areas, and we would be interested to see what steps the Welsh Government is able to take, jointly with local...
Matched on
terms: area, out
LGO / SPSO decision
64match
21-016-752 - Basildon Borough Council
Summary: Mr X complained about how the Council dealt with his homelessness application between August and October 2021. He says the Council’s poor service led to a hospital admission and has had an enduring impact on his mental health. The Council was at fault. It did not do enough to help prevent Mr X’s homelessness. The Council will...
Matched on
terms: homeles, out
IMB recommendation
63match
Dovegate (2020)
The Board asks the minister to encourage the government to continue the National Homelessness Task Force after the pandemic, so that resettlement departments have this additional help to provide settled accommodation on release to prisoners without strong family ties.
Matched on
terms: family, homeles, out
PFD report
61match
Benjamin Nelson-Roux
The system failed to find suitable accommodation for a homeless 16-year-old by limiting searches to county boundaries and lacking residential substance misuse treatment facilities for minors.
Matched on
terms: homeles
Committee recommendation
61match
#17 - 1st Report - Black people’s experiences of homelessness
We welcome the measures in the Social Housing Bill to support victims of domestic abuse and to help prevent them becoming homeless. We will follow the scrutiny of the Bill closely. (Conclusion, Paragraph 93)
Matched on
terms: homeles
Committee recommendation
61match
#16 - 1st Report - Black people’s experiences of homelessness
Domestic abuse is a key driver of homelessness. The housing workforce must have the training and capacity required to deal with cases effectively and compassionately. The government has increased the funding available to support victims into safe accommodation but it falls far short of what is needed. We are concerned that the significant funding shortfall is putting 50...
Matched on
terms: homeles
Committee recommendation
61match
#4 - 1st Report - Black people’s experiences of homelessness
Local Housing Allowance provides vital support for people on lower incomes. The ad hoc approach of freezing and resetting rates creates uncertainty, pushes people into further poverty and increased risks of homelessness. This in turn forces local authorities to increase their use of temporary accommodation, at substantial cost. (Conclusion, Paragraph 44)
Matched on
terms: homeles
Committee recommendation
61match
#11 - Significant concerns exist regarding B&B suitability for temporary accommodation, particularly for children.
There are particular concerns about the use of B&Bs as temporary accommodation, regarding the suitability of the environment and location, safeguarding in mixed settings, and a lack of support from wider public services. Children in B&Bs often face particular challenges, such as not having the space for their physical development, and going to school hungry since B&Bs are...
Matched on
terms: out
Committee recommendation
61match
#13 - Ensure consistent identifiers alert schools and GPs when children move into temporary accommodation.
Currently, schools are not always notified when a pupil becomes homeless or changes school due to a move into temporary accommodation. This prevents schools from offering additional support which those children may require. Similarly, GPs are often unaware that families are experiencing homelessness, leaving an incomplete picture of the health impacts of homelessness on children. (Conclusion, Paragraph 64)...
Matched on
terms: homeles
Committee recommendation
61match
#3 - Mandate local authorities to conduct mandatory temporary accommodation inspections and publish annual reports.
Some local authorities are not taking sufficient account of the needs of children and families when making decisions on temporary accommodation placements. Many local authorities do not carry out any regular inspections of the conditions in the accommodation they use to house families. This is unacceptable. (Conclusion, Paragraph 26) The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government must...
Matched on
terms: out
Committee recommendation
60match
#16 - Twenty-Fifth Report - Asylum accommodation and support transformation programme
Hotel accommodation usually lacks facilities for children and suitable accommodation for families to share for extended periods.42 We received written evidence from the Refugee Council, which told us that while in hotels or initial accommodation, asylum seekers cannot register with a GP or enrol their children into school.43 We received written evidence regarding the health and well-being themes...
Matched on
terms: out
IMB recommendation
60match
Norwich (2021)
How is the Government planning to build on the regional homelessness prevention taskforce (HPT) to eradicate homelessness for released prisoners and ensure that there is equity of accommodation provision for the homeless throughout the UK?
Matched on
terms: homeles, out