Flintshire homelessness figures hit new high as out-of-county placements jump by more than 50%
The number of people living in temporary accommodation in Flintshire has risen to 557, with the council increasingly forced to house homeless families and individuals outside the county as local supply runs dry.
Data published ahead of next Wednesday’s Community and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee shows 428 households were in some form of temporary housing in February, up from 389 in December.
Out-of-county placements, where the council cannot find a bed within Flintshire and must place people in Wrexham, Denbighshire or across the border in Cheshire, rose from 51 to 78 over the same period, a 53% increase in three months.
The council retains a legal duty to house those people and continues to fund their accommodation, but households moved out of county are cut off from family, friends and GPs.
Families with children face the added disruption of changing schools.
The figures also show 195 households were in emergency accommodation in February, compared to 163 in December.
Only 36 people left temporary accommodation for long-term settled housing in February, down from 51 in December.
With 108 new clients assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness last month alone, the council is placing people in temporary accommodation far faster than it is resettling them.
The most common reasons for homelessness presentations in February were loss of rented accommodation, relatives or friends no longer willing to provide housing, and non-violent relationship breakdown.
Demand for housing triage has also risen sharply. Officers completed 169 assessments in February, up from 120 in December, a 41% increase in three months.
Prison leavers account for six of February’s homeless presentations, a figure included within the overall total. Single males make up just over 71% of those currently in temporary accommodation. Families with children account for around 11% of placements.
The committee will receive a monthly update on the figures when it meets on Wednesday, March 18 at the Lord Barry Jones Chamber in Ewloe.
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