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Homelessness, rough sleeping and temporary accommodation

We frequently receive Freedom of Information (FOI) requests regarding homelessness, rough sleeping and temporary accommodation. We have published a variety of previous FOI responses relating to these topics in our disclosure log.

Tackling homelessness and rough sleeping is one of our Strategic Priorities. For the purposes of transparency and openness, we have compiled comprehensive information regarding these common topics below.

Data

The government publishes local councils’ statistics on homelessness, rough sleeping and temporary accommodation, you can access the data online on the GOV.UK. Please note that there is a delay in the government updating this dataset by two quarters.

We also hold the following data on temporary accommodation:

Number of households in temporary accommodation per month in 2022/23

Month Total number of households Homelessness DutyRSI/Discretionary
April 174 141 33
May 177 148 29
June 182 156 26
July 184 161 23
August 192 167 25
September 200 176 24
October 206 180 26
November 215 186 29
December 235 202 33
January 250 220 30
February 254 225 29
March 269 240 29

Number of households in temporary accommodation per month in 2023/24

Month Total number of households Homelessness DutyRSI/Discretionary
April 255 229 26
May 240 214 26
June 268 237 31
July 272 246 26
August 294 263 31
September 285 258 27
October 276 253 32
November 270 238 32
December 283 244 39
January 312 262 50
February 293 242 51
March 286 229 57

Number of households in temporary accommodation per month in 2024/25

Month Total number of households Homelessness DutyRSI/Discretionary
April 275 232 43
May 283 245 38
June 290 252 38
July 277 250 35
August 284 250 34
September 280 245 35
October 296 259 35
November 302 257 45
December 301 259 42
January 317 271 46
February 316 277 41
March 323 290 33  

Number of households in temporary accommodation per month in 2025/26

Month Total number of households Homelessness Duty

RSI/Discretionary

April 307 281 26
May 300 275 27
June 302 277 35
July 309 284 23
August 301 274 27
September 274 250 25
October 262 233 29
November 254 222 32
December 245 210 35
January 251 214 37
February 247 220 27
March 267 242 23

Number of households in temporary accommodation per month in 2026/27

Month Total number of households Homelessness DutyRSI/Discretionary
April 265 240 25
May 310 285 25
June 299 275 24

Costs of temporary accommodation

Year TA expenditure
2022/23 £2,183,808
2023/24 £4,034,994
2024/25 £4,315,166
2025/26 £3,560,953

Homelessness due to domestic abuse

Homelessness applications are sometimes made due to domestic abuse. We publish information and advice regarding domestic abuse on our Domestic abuse page.

Anyone who is experiencing domestic abuse and approaches us as homeless has an automatic "Priority Need" under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021. All cases, including those that do not meet the criteria, are recorded. The circumstances in which a case would not meet the criteria are set out in the Homelessness Code of Guidance.

Data regarding homelessness applications made due to domestic abuse is published online on GOV.UK. Please note that there is a delay in the government updating this dataset by two quarters.

We do not hold any data on destitution (poverty) due to domestic abuse.

Kent housing group

We are a member of the Kent Housing Group, which is a forum made up of all local councils in Kent and Medway, housing associations, Homes England and other housing support organisations.