A study from University of Nottingham researchers has investigated destinations of out-of-area (OOA) housing placements and has found there is little advantage to many local authorities placing households OOA, as they receive similar numbers back from other local authorities.
Out-of-area housing is a practice where local authorities discharge their duty to accommodate homeless households by placing them in other local authority areas. This frequently involves the households being placed in temporary accommodation, away from the area they currently reside in, resulting in a period of upheaval, insecurity and many adverse outcomes.
Earlier research and findings from the School of Sociology and Social Policy examined the extent of OOA housing placements, the over-representation of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) households, and which local authorities are placing out of area.
To continue the much-needed focus on this ongoing housing crisis, this latest tranche of research conducted by Dr Steve Iafrati, Assistant Professor in Social Policy, and Dr Nick Clare, Associate Professor of Geography, focused more explicitly on the destination of households, which allowed the researchers the opportunity to consider the impacts – not only on the households, but also on the receiving local authorities and service providers in these areas.
The findings show that high numbers of households continue to be placed out of area, which has significant impacts on their wellbeing. The destination data that we have now accumulated, maps where these households are going. Significantly, whilst some households are being many miles away from home, most OOA placements are made by London authorities and are staying within London and the south-east of England."
"What we are seeing is a pattern of local authorities moving households out of area whilst at the same time receiving sometimes comparable numbers from other local authorities. For all the disruption caused to households, there is frequently little benefit for many local authorities, whilst there are some local authorities receiving very high numbers."
The latest findings concluded that due to a lack of co-ordination regarding OOA placements – in particular emanating from London local authorities, and frequently staying within London – there is little advantage to many local authorities placing households out-of-area due to the numbers received back. Consequently, it will be important to develop a co-ordinated strategy which recognises how OOA placements can be reduced to lessen the harm caused to priority households.
Although the aim of the interim report is not to provide recommendations at this stage, it has highlighted some initial findings and valuable observations, which the researchers hope will start a conversation – specifically on geographical areas – and pre-empt a more comprehensive report which will provide more details.
