Council gets fewer homeless applications in St Albans (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Figure fell from 93 in 2010 to 80 last year

5:20pm Thursday 2nd February 2012 in News By Zoe Forsey

The number of homeless applications received by St Albans District Council has decreased, despite an increase in the amount of enquiries.

Statistics provided by the council show the number of applications is down from 93 in 2010 to 80 in 2011.

Brian Ellis, portfolio holder for housing, said: “The increased emphasis and resources directed to provide housing advice by the council’s housing team, coupled with the use of the rent deposit scheme and the Credit Union’s good work in providing loans for deposits, seems to be paying dividends. “These measures, and other initiatives from the council and our partners, are helping to keep down the number of homelessness applications.”

The figures also show that there was a decrease in parental evictions from 12 in 2010 to two in 2011.

However there has also been a sharp increase in the number of families becoming homeless when landlords do not offer further tenancy after their previous agreement expires.

In 2011, 24 families found themselves in this situation, compared with 13 in 2010.