More than 800 Worcester households were classed as needing help to stop or prevent homelessness across a year, figures show.

Statistics published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities show 840 households in the city were classed as needing help following an initial assessment.

According to the figures, which cover April 2022 to March 2023, 457 households were classed as homeless and a further 383 were threatened with homelessness.

For almost a quarter of people, the reason for the loss of their last settled home was given as domestic abuse.

Other reasons included friends or family no longer being able to accommodate someone, people getting to the end of a tenancy and eviction from supported housing.

Only 10 people classed as homeless had been sleeping rough at the time of their application for support. Most were staying with family or friends, living in rented accommodation or were classed as having “no fixed abode”.

A household is considered statutorily homeless if a local authority decides that they do not have a legal right to occupy accommodation that is accessible, physically available and which would be reasonable for the household to continue to live in.

The support needs of applicants included mental health problems, physical ill health and disability, risk of domestic abuse, history of rough sleeping and drug dependencies.

A Worcester City Council spokesman said: “Worcester City Council’s housing team work hard to provide a high quality service to people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, helping them to understand and make informed choices about their housing options.

“We work with at-risk households to create a personal housing plan for each of them, and we aim to help them remain in their current home or to move as quickly as possible into either private or housing association accommodation. 

“The city council plays a significant role in helping rough sleepers to move off the streets, working in partnership with local organisations including St Paul’s Hostel, Maggs Day Centre and CCP (Caring for Communities and People).

“Anyone who is at risk of becoming homeless should contact us as soon as possible at www.worcester.gov.uk/housing, by calling 01905 722589 or by visiting us at our Trinity Street Housing Advice Centre.”