Population overview

Data on homelessness is captured in several different ways, there is national reporting of the number of people who meet the statutory definition of homelessness.

The July to September 2020 data summary reported that for Birmingham 1,256 households were assessed between July and September and of these 99.2% were owed a duty of support.

Support is defined in this data in terms of a ‘prevention duty’ where there is a threat of homelessness within 56 days and a ‘relief duty’ where an individual is already homeless.

Data on some aspects of diversity are presented in these reports for both duty groups (N=1,246), this reported that during this period in Birmingham:

• 42.5% of applicants were aged 25 to 34 years, 25.1% aged 35 to 44 years and 14.3% aged 18 to 24 years, 1.2% of main applicants were aged over 65yrs.
• 31.4% of main applicants were White, 21.3% were Black, 20.5% were Asian and 5.8% from Mixed ethnic communities
• 22.6% of main applicants identified as heterosexual, 0.5% identified as lesbian or gay, 3.6% declined to provide this information but for 73.3% of applicants this data had not been reported.
• 56.3% of main applicants were registered as unemployed, 8.3% were in full time work and 10.7% in part-time work, 1.2% were students.

The data also collated support needs of households in both duty groups (N=281 ), households may have multiple needs so appear in more than one category:

• 12.4% needed support being at risk or had experienced domestic violence
• 11.9% needed support with education, employment or training
• 1.6% had a learning disability needs
• 1.1% had alcohol or drug dependence support needs
• 1.0% had a history of being in the care system
• 7.1% had a history of mental health problems
• 0.1% had served in HM Forces
• 0.7% had a history of offending

Of those who were owed a ‘prevention duty’ (N=372):

• 43% were becoming homeless because friends or family were no longer willing to accommodate and 18% because of the end of a private rented tenancy (assured shorthold), 4.8% were due to domestic abuse.
• 28.2% were women with dependent children, 31.5% were single men, 14.0% were couples with dependent children

Of those who were owed a ‘relief duty’(N=874):

• 39.5% were becoming homeless because friends or family were no longer willing to accommodate them, 21.6% were due to domestic violence, 5.0% because of the end of private rented tenancy (assured shorthold) and 4.9% following eviction from supported housing.