Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an estimate of the number of homeless people in full-service universal credit areas (a) before and (b) after the roll-out of universal credit.

The Department has not made an estimate of the number of homeless people in full service areas. We do not hold data on homelessness at a postcode or Jobcentre Plus level, which would be necessary to inform such an estimate. Data on homelessness by local authority level is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/homelessness-statistics.

However, DWP have played an active role in developing the Homelessness Case Level Information Collection tool and is committed to continually supporting the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to improve its data collection system for statistical and research purposes. More information on this is available at https://gss.civilservice.gov.uk/statistics/working-with-users/dclg-homelessness-statistics-user-forum/.

In addition, from October 2018, Jobcentres across England will have a legal duty to refer homeless people, and those at risk of becoming homeless, to a local authority housing team of the claimant’s choice. This duty will help claimants access homelessness services as soon as possible, allowing local authorities to focus on prevention.