Emergency accommodation project

The following page outlines Homeless Link's project to examine the availability and effectiveness of different emergency accommodation solutions for non-statutory homeless people across England.

We believe every authority needs to put in place a response to emergency housing need to prevent those at risk of homelessness having to sleep on the streets.

1 in 4 areas in England have no emergency accommodation for single homeless people. However, every area needs to put in place a response to emergency housing need to prevent those at risk of homelessness from having to sleep rough. Homeless Link carried out research into responses to emergency housing need which you can read about in our  Emergency Housing Need Report.

You can also download case studies , highlighting examples of where third sector and local authorities have found alternative solutions to emergency accommodation.

Background

In some areas, direct access hostels are used as one way of addressing the immediate accommodation needs of homeless people and rough sleepers. Although not long term solutions, they can provide a valuable first step for homeless people with nowhere to go.

Homeless Link's Survey of Needs and Provision (SNAP) showed that 228 district or unitary authorities do not have a direct access hostel (64%). However, direct access hostels are by no means the only way of addressing immediate accommodation needs.

Project aim

This project aims to examine the 228 areas across England with no direct access hostel to explore the options available to non-statutory homeless people, and identify any effective alternative responses to emergency housing need.

Methodology

The first phase of the project involved interviews with local authorities in areas with no direct access hostel. The subsequent report Emergency Accommodation: A survey of provision in areas with no direct access hostel is available to view and download. This report is based on interviews with 145 local authorities across England.

The second phase of the project conducted a series of in depth case studies looking at the barriers and solutions related to the provision of emergency accommodation, as well as examples of good practice and innovative solutions.

Summaries of these case studies can be found in the report Responding to Emergency Housing Need and full versions are available on our Rough Sleeping Portal. The report highlights examples of where third sector and local authorities have found alternative solutions to emergency accommodation. It finishes with a series of recommendations which we believe should be considered at a local and regional level to ensure that non statutory homeless people can access provision and avoid sleeping on the streets.

Further information

For further information on this project, please contact Helen Mathie.

If you are homeless and in need of emergency accommodation, contact the housing department of your local council and they should be able to help you. You can also look for emergency accommodation in your area on our Homeless UK database, or contact Shelter's free, national telephone advice line on 0808 800 4444.