Facts about homeless people in the UK

• The number of newly homeless households has fallen sharply each year since 2003 and the 2010 figure of 61,000 households is only a third of the 2003 number (202,000).
• Just over half of the households officially recognised as newly homeless do not contain dependent children.  The distinction between with, and without children, is important because many of the latter do not qualify for accommodation (i.e. they are considered 'not to be in priority need').
• Although most prevalent in the West Midlands and in London, homelessness is to be found throughout the country.
• The most common reason for becoming homeless is loss of accommodation provided by relatives or friends (a third of those deemed 'in priority need'), with a further fifth being due to relationship breakdown.
• A quarter of those accepted as homeless and in priority need by English local authorities are from ethnic minorities.  This means that ethnic minority households are, overall, around three times as likely to become homeless as the majority White population.