Skip to main content
Visit the UK Parliament website
House of Commons Library
  • Home
  • Research
  • Resources
  • Training and events
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Search
  1. UK Parliament
  2. House of Commons Library
  3. Homelessness

Homelessness

Rough sleeping in England: Local and national government action

Tuesday, 28 January, 2025

Information about local authorities' legal duties to help people experiencing rough sleeping in England and an overview of national government action to tackle rough sleeping since 1990.

  • Research Briefing
  • Housing and planning
  • Homelessness
Rough sleeping in England: Local and national government action

Veterans: Access to housing

Friday, 08 November, 2024

This briefing provides an overview of the housing support available to veterans across the UK.

  • Research Briefing
  • Armed forces
  • Home ownership
  • Housing and planning
  • Rented housing
  • Homelessness
Veterans: Access to housing

Statutory homelessness (England): The legal framework and performance

Tuesday, 30 July, 2024

An overview of the legal framework for statutory homelessness support in England and how local authorities are delivering these duties. The briefing also summarises official homelessness statistics.

  • Research Briefing
  • Housing and planning
  • Homelessness
Statutory homelessness (England): The legal framework and performance
  • Research Briefing

    Statutory homelessness (England): Causes and government policy

    Tuesday, 30 July, 2024

    Outlines the main drivers of homelessness and summarises the UK Government’s approach to tackling homelessness in England, including stakeholder views and comment.

    • Research Briefing
    • Housing and planning
    • Homelessness
  • Research Briefing

    Mortgage arrears and repossessions in England

    Wednesday, 20 September, 2023

    An overview of current and past approaches to helping homeowners with mortgage debt, including information on trends in arrears and repossessions.

    • Research Briefing
    • Finance
    • Home ownership
    • Housing and planning
    • Work and incomes
    • Homelessness
  • Research Briefing

    Households in temporary accommodation (England)

    Monday, 30 January, 2023

    This paper provides data on homeless households in temporary accommodation in England and outlines initiatives and issues associated with the use of temporary accommodation.

    • Research Briefing
    • Housing and planning
    • Homelessness
  • Research Briefing

    Rough Sleepers: Enforcement Powers (England)

    Friday, 09 April, 2021

    This briefing paper discusses the use of enforcement powers under the Vagrancy Act 1824 and the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 in relation to rough sleepers.

    • Research Briefing
    • Crime
    • Housing and planning
    • Homelessness
  • Research Briefing

    Housing First: tackling homelessness for those with complex needs

    Monday, 08 March, 2021

    Housing First (HF) is a homelessness intervention strategy, aimed at people with multiple and complex needs, particularly rough sleepers. It provides access to permanent housing as a starting point to help tackle their non-housing needs as well. HF is often contrasted with “linear”, “stairway” and “treatment first” schemes, which proponents argue can result in high rates of attrition and a lack of appropriate service support due to the need for users to meet certain requirements before moving into stable independent housing.

    • Research Briefing
    • Housing and planning
    • Homelessness
  • Research Briefing

    Applying as homeless from an assured shorthold tenancy (England)

    Thursday, 09 July, 2020

    This paper considers how English local authorities deal with private tenants who have been served with a section 21 notice and are about to become homeless.

    • Research Briefing
    • Housing and planning
    • Rented housing
    • Homelessness
  • Research Briefing

    Rough sleepers: access to services and support (England)

    Wednesday, 09 October, 2019

    Rough sleepers are one of the most vulnerable groups in society, many with high levels of complex and interrelated needs. This paper provides an overview of the support and services - including accommodation, health, welfare, training, employment and voter registration - that are available for rough sleepers in England, and the challenges rough sleepers can face in accessing them.

    • Research Briefing
    • Benefits policy
    • Health
    • Health services
    • Housing and planning
    • Homelessness
  • Research Briefing

    Comparison of homelessness duties in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

    Thursday, 05 April, 2018

    A comparison of the legal frameworks for assisting homeless people in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland. In this devolved policy area, divergent approaches are emerging from the four nations.

    • Research Briefing
    • Housing and planning
    • Homelessness
  • Research Briefing

    Housing support for ex-offenders (England and Wales)

    Wednesday, 18 October, 2017

    Finding accommodation when leaving prison can be difficult. This note outlines the support available to people leaving prison and the relevant duties of local authorities. It also considers how a prison sentence affects a person's ability to receive Housing Benefit.

    • Research Briefing
    • Housing and planning
    • Rented housing
    • Homelessness
  • Research Briefing

    The Rough Sleepers Initiative (RSI) 1990-99

    Sunday, 08 March, 2015

    This note provides background to the Rough Sleepers Initiative (RSI) and an assessment of its impact in England between 1990 and 1999.

    • Research Briefing
    • Housing and planning
    • Homelessness
  • Research Briefing

    Mortgage repossessions: tenants’ rights (England and Wales)

    Monday, 24 October, 2011

    This House of Commons Library briefing paper summarises the options available to tenants when they discover that their landlord has defaulted on the mortgage payments.

    • Research Briefing
    • Housing and planning
    • Rented housing
    • Work and incomes
    • Homelessness

Quick Links

  • About
  • Work with us
  • Editorial policy
  • Feedback and complaints

By Topic

  • Research for Commons business
  • Economy, business and transport
  • Home affairs
  • Parliament and elections
  • Science, environment and technology
  • Social policy
  • World affairs
  • Full topic list

By Type

  • Research Briefings
  • Debate Packs
  • Insights
  • Data
  • Constituency casework
  • Research archive
  • Resources
  • Training and events

Mailing List

Subscribe to receive email alerts every time we publish new research about the topics you’re interested in.

Subscribe

Follow us:

  • Twitter

© House of Commons 2025. Re-use our content freely and flexibly with only a few conditions under the Open Parliament Licence.

Privacy notice | Cookie policy | Cookie settings | Accessibility statement