‘Misleading’ figures
Statutory homelessness peaked under the Labour government and is down by over 50% since then. It’s this government that is delivering for people on housing.
used inaccurate and ‘misleading‘ figures about homelessness. And because the government was ordered not to use these figures by the UK Statistics Authority, May knew that they were not accurate. In other words, she knowingly misled parliament; or lied.
The truth
- Between 1 July and 30 September 2017, there were 15,290 statutorily homeless households, up 2% from 14,930 on the same quarter of last year.
- On 30 September 2017, the number of households in temporary accommodation was 79,190, up 6% from 74,750 at the same date last year, and up 65% on the low of 48,010 on 31 December 2010.


The end of an AST has rapidly become the single biggest cause of homelessness in recent years, triggered by spiralling rent rises and cuts to housing benefit support. In 2010 just 11% of homeless acceptances in England were caused by the end of an AST.
Disgraceful
- The number of children in temporary accommodation is at its highest levels since 2007 [xls, table 775_England, column G, row 86 vs row 44].
- Cases of households being moved into temporary accommodation outside their local authority area have increased by 5% in the past year [pdf, p16].
But with her government failing thousands of families so badly, it is little wonder she felt the need to lie at PMQs to cover her party’s disgraceful tracks.