Written question asked by Claire Curtis-Thomas (Labour) on Monday, 9 March 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 11 March 2009. It was answered by Baroness Beckett (Labour) on Monday, 16 March 2009 on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Homelessness: Crosby

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 4 February 2009, Official Report, columns 1284-85W, on homelessness, what definition of the term vulnerable households she uses; and what estimate she has made of the number of vulnerable households in Crosby constituency which will receive assistance under the Mortgage Reserve Scheme.

Answer: The Government Mortgage Rescue aims to support up to 6,000 'vulnerable' households in England at risk of repossession over the next two years. Under the scheme's criteria, a 'vulnerable' household is termed as one that falls within one of three priority need categories and who would be owed a duty to secure accommodation under the homelessness legislation (section 189(1)(a)-(c) of the Housing Act 1996) if they became homeless through no fault of their own.The three priority need categories are that the home owner must be:"(1) a person with whom dependent children reside or might reasonably be expected to reside;""(2) a pregnant woman or a person with whom she resides or might reasonably be expected to reside; or""(3) a person who is vulnerable as a result of old age, mental illness or handicap or physical disability or other special reason, or with whom such a person resides or might reasonably be expected to reside."The £200 million Government Mortgage Rescue Scheme has been operational across the country since 1 January 2009. The Government have not made any estimate of the number of households it expects to benefit from the scheme by individual parliamentary constituency. The scheme is demand-led, with the number of vulnerable households benefiting from the scheme dependant on the number of eligible households approaching their local authority for assistance.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 489 c879-80W;489 c881-2W; 263003
Session: 2008-09
Related items: Homelessness
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Government assistance Mortgages
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk