Breakdown of youth homelessness cases in 2025/26
Received 1 May 2026
We would like to know about any young people aged 16-24 who approached you as a main applicant during the financial year 2025-2026 because they were homeless or at risk of homelessness.
The information we are requesting falls under the Housing Act 1996 which has been amended to include the new duties brought in by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, and the Children Act 1989.
We kindly request the information in the query below. In all questions ‘2025-2026’ refers to the financial year from April 2025 to March 2026.
We are requesting data on homelessness presentations, assessments and eligibility for this financial year (2025-2026) including:
- (Q1-Q14) Annual total of unique individuals: 1st April 2025 - 31st March 2026
- (Q15) Quarter 3 total of unique individuals: 1st October - 31st December 2025
For Table 1:
1) In your authority in 2025-2026, how many 16–24-year-olds presented themselves as homeless, or at risk of homelessness, as a main applicant? 77
This does not include general housing advice. By presenting we mean all who presented themselves as homeless even if they were not subsequently assessed. This includes individuals who presented before 56 days of becoming homeless, or at risk of homelessness, believed they were homeless but did not meet requirement, presented but were not eligible for homelessness assistance.
2) In your authority in 2025-2026, how many 16-17 year olds were assessed:
- a - For Prevention and/or Relief duty under part 7 of the Housing Act? 4
- b - For further support under the Children’s Act? 4
While this assessment is a new duty brought in by the HRA, it is a duty under part 7 of the Housing Act as amended by the HRA. Please answer Q3-7 for those under 2a only.
3) In your authority in 2025-2026, how many 16-17 year olds received an initial decision of being owed:
- a - Prevention duty under HRA 1
- b - Relief duty under HRA 2
4) Prevention duty ended:
- a - With accommodation secured 1
- b - Leading to relief duty 0
- c - Any other reason 0
5) Relief ended:
- a - With accommodation secured 1
- b - for any other reason (not including those who progress to an assessment under the Housing Act 1996) 2
6) In your authority in 2025-2026, how many 16-17 year olds were assessed for a statutory main housing duty under part 7 of the Housing Act? 0
By this we mean following unsuccessful prevention and/or relief outcomes, how many young people underwent a final assessment under part 7 of the Housing Act in order to assess their eligibility for a statutory main housing duty
7) In your authority in 2025-2026, how many 16-17 year olds were accepted as statutorily homeless and owed a statutory main housing duty under part 6 of the Housing Act 1996? 0
After undergoing a final assessment, how many young people were accepted as statutorily homeless and offered a statutory main housing duty.
For Table 2:
8) In your authority in 2025-2026, how many 18-24 year olds presented themselves as homeless, or at risk of homelessness, as a main applicant? 57
This does not include general housing advice. By presenting we mean all who presented themselves as homeless even if they were not subsequently assessed. This includes individuals who presented before 56 days of becoming homeless, or at risk of homelessness, believed they were homeless but did not meet requirement, presented but were not eligible for homelessness assistance.
9) In your authority in 2025-2026, how many 18-24 year olds were assessed for a Prevention and/or Relief duty under part 7 of the Housing Act? 259
While this assessment is a new duty brought in by the HRA, it is a duty under part 7 of the Housing Act as amended by the HRA.
10) In your authority in 2025-2026, how many 18-24 year olds received an initial decision of being owed:
a - Prevention duty under HRA 197
b - Relief duty under HRA 62
11) Prevention duty ended:
a - With accommodation secured 155
b - Leading to relief duty 53
c - Any other reason 13
12) Relief ended:
a - With accommodation secured 22
b - for any other reason (not including those who progress to an assessment under the Housing Act 1996) 15
13) In your authority in 2025-2026, how many 18-24 year olds were assessed for a statutory main housing duty under part 7 of the Housing Act? 55
By this we mean following unsuccessful prevention and/or relief outcomes, how many young people underwent a final assessment under part 7 of the Housing Act in order to assess their eligibility for a statutory main housing duty
14) In your authority in 2025-2026, how many 18-24 year olds were accepted as statutorily homeless and owed a statutory main housing duty under part 6 of the Housing Act 1996? 26
After undergoing a final assessment, how many young people were accepted as statutorily homeless and offered a statutory main housing duty.
For Table 3:
15) In your authority in Quarter 3 of 2024 (1st October - 31st December 2025), how many 16-24 year olds presented themselves as homeless, or at risk of homelessness, as a main applicant? 93
This does not include general housing advice. By presenting we mean all who presented themselves as homeless even if they were not subsequently assessed. This might include individuals who presented before 56 days of becoming homeless, or at risk of homelessness, believed they were homeless but did not meet requirement, presented but were not eligible for homelessness assistance.
We are also requesting totals for 2025-26 for questions 1-14 broken down by gender (male, female, other/unknown/not recorded), and by the following nationality categories (UK, EEA, non-EEA and Unknown).
We are unable to break this down by gender.
Responded 2 June 2026
Please see responses above in bold.