Mediation services to resolve family or relationship breakdowns or offering rent deposit to aid a family make a move into accommodation were just two of the methods that housing authorities and their partners have employed to prevent households from becoming homeless.

Homelessness Minister Iain Wright has praised the achievements of local authorities as new figures revealed that the numbers of households in temporary accommodation fell by 11 percent in comparison to the same period last year.

The Minister welcomed the news that the numbers were continuing to move in the right direction from 87,120 in the first quarter of 2007 to 77,510 in 2008, but said there was still more to do to help more families into settled homes.

Today's figures show that the South East, North East and the East Midlands have now all achieved the Government's 2010 target of 50 percent reduction in the numbers of households living in temporary accommodation from the baseline set in 2004. Overall one third of Local Authorities have reached the target, with more on the way. Iain Wright also singled out Croydon for praise for being the first London council to meet the 2010 target against a very challenging background.

Wright said: 2003 was the first year that local authorities were required to have a homelessness strategy in place and we have seen an almost continuous decrease in numbers ever since. Those who have reached the target two years early should be rightly proud of their efforts, but we know we have more to do to assist families into settled homes - the challenge now is for others to meet this early success.”

The homelessness statistics for the first quarter of 2008 showed that Homeless Acceptances were down 10 percent from the same period last year, due to the proactive and effective approach that housing authorities and their partners had undertaken on their prevention agenda.

Wright continued: “By providing a range of services such as family mediation and rent deposits as part of their prevention work local authorities have enabled many households to avoid becoming homeless. I am sure I am not alone in wanting to thank everyone who has worked so hard to offer these households such opportunities.”

A Local Authority Survey in 2007 (301 LA's responded to survey) showed 201 authorities operated rent deposit schemes; 168 authorities operated home visits; 80 authorities operated mediation services. 45 authorities were planning to introduce rent deposit schemes; 24 authorities were planning to introduce home visits and 60 authorities were planning to introduce mediation schemes.