Historical trend
Trend summary
358,370 households were assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness in England in 2023–24, up 10.4% from 311,990 in 2022–23.
Trend
- Annual statutory homelessness assessments rose from 287,880 in 2018–19 to 358,370 in 2023–24, a 24% increase over six years.
- The number fell to 276,110 in 2020–21 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when eviction restrictions were in place, before rising again.
- The 2023–24 increase was driven by a 4.6% rise in households threatened with homelessness due to the end of an assured shorthold tenancy.
Context
- Figures cover England only; data is collected under the 2017 Homelessness Reduction Act, which came into force in April 2018.
- Pre-2018 data is not directly comparable as the Act substantially widened local authority duties and recording requirements.
Commentary contains no editorial judgement — describes direction, magnitude, and official projections only.