Why is the issue of single homelessness important?
Two thirds of households applying as homeless are single person households. As a consequence of the legislation, many single people find themselves ineligible for housing from their local authority – even though they are homeless. Under the 2001, the local authority only has a duty to provide advice and assistance and temporary accommodation for a reasonable period. This is not to say that all single are excluded from housing. Rather, single people usually have to have an additional priority need, such as a mental illness or disability, in order to be eligible for housing. To be eligible for a house, it is not enough for a single person to be homeless. Click here to open a chart illustrating how single homeless people are assessed As a consequence, it is likely that single homeless people are under represented in the figures and do not apply to their local authority. Government and local authority policies should take account of wider demographic trends which show that more people are
