FOI Request - Homelessness

Request 101000060771

This is a request for information pursuant to the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

I wondered if you could kindly supply me with details of the following:

1. How many people approached the council for advice on homelessness between April and September 2010 (Quarter2 and Q3)?
2. How many people approached the council for advice on homelessness between April and September 2011 (Q2 and Q3)?
3. If you cannot quantify the above, could you anecdotally say that you have seen an increase in people approaching the council for advice on homelessness between 2010 and 2011?

If you require any further details in order to comply with this request, please contact me straightaway. If you believe that another public authority holds all of the information I have requested, please let me know as soon as possible and let me have suitable contact details for that public authority.

If the information can be found in the public domain, please supply details of where it might be found.

Response 18-05-2012

1. Prior to the implementation of our Housing Options Team in October 2010, the Council had a different method of dealing with households seeking advice on homelessness.  All were referred to homelessness officers for assistance.

The figures below show the number of homeless applications that were made from April 2010 to September 2010. 

Note: In October 2010, the Council introduced a housing options team specifically to improve the information and advice for those in housing need in Moray.  A new recording system was also introduced to ensure a more accurate recording of those seeking advice.

2. 

3. Based on the data for both years, the figures would suggest that more people are contacting the Council seeking advice about their housing situation.  That said, it is important to note that the Council has actively promoted the housing options service and homelessness did reduce in 2010/11.  The main household type who sought advice were single people aged 25-59.