New figures show that the number of households assessed as homeless remains well above pre-pandemic levels, despite recent improvements.
Statistics published this morning by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government reveal a 7.1% year-on-year decrease in the number of households initially assessed as homeless. This comes as the Centre for Social Justice warns of worrying post-pandemic homelessness figures, with new assessments exceeding pre-pandemic levels by around 20,000.
Between January and March 2025, local authorities initially assessed 90,780 households for homelessness, finding 83,450 were owed a statutory duty to prevent or relieve it. Out of these, 37,610 households were assessed as being threatened with homelessness and owed a prevention duty, a decrease of 4.5% from the same quarter the year before. An additional 45,840 households were assessed as homeless and owed a relief duty.
A statutory homelessness duty requires local authorities to offer temporary housing and other provisions to those who are homeless or at risk, encompassing both prevention and relief.
As of 31 March 2025, there were 131,140 households in temporary accommodation (TA), an 11.8% increase from the year before. There were 83,150 households with children in TA, with single households accounting for the remaining 47,990.
The data team at Polimapper has visualised the latest figures on homelessness and temporary accommodation from the MHCLG by local authority.
In January to March 2025, Brent saw the highest number of households assessed as homeless per 1,000 households, at 5.1. Blackpool and Islington closely follow, both at 4.9.
The London local authorities of Newham, Westminster and Southwark registered the highest number of households in TA per 1,000, at 57.7, 32.9 and 30.2 respectively. Explore figures in your area below.
About this map
The map below shows the latest statutory homelessness figures from the MHCLG by local authority in England.
To view statistics in your area double click on the map or click here to launch the full page version
Geodata context
Despite some encouraging improvements in the latest assessment figures, the overall number of people in temporary accommodation continues to climb. New reports also warn that homelessness rates remain significantly above pre-pandemic levels.
This month, the Centre for Social Justice released a report on homelessness and temporary housing, urging the government to increase investment in tackling rough sleeping and outlining key recommendations. The article reads: “Homelessness and rough sleeping in England have increased significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, placing growing pressure on local authorities and services like Housing First. The government has committed and protected additional funding for homelessness and rough sleeping through the 2025 Spending Review process. This creates an opportunity to invest in interventions that are proven to be effective.”
“We have outlined a fully costed, targeted national Housing First programme to deliver 5,571 places by 2029/30, ensuring that every region in England is able to share in the success of the national pilots. […] Crucially, we have shown how the government can unlock greater capital funding to deliver homes for people moving out of homelessness.”
Andy Cook, chief executive at the Centre for Social Justice: “Housing First has emerged as one of the most effective approaches to ending rough sleeping. Angela Rayner now has a unique opportunity to champion a national rollout which would be a game-changer in the fight to end rough sleeping.”