To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many (a) walk-in and (b) referral-only hostel places were available in each region in England in each year since 1997. (184393)

The Department does not collect information on walk-in and referral-only hostel spaces.

Homeless UK, an online national database of accommodation services for the homeless which is funded by Communities and Local Government, holds current information on direct access hostels for rough sleepers on a regional basis—see table as follows. Direct access hostels for rough sleepers are short stay emergency services for rough sleepers where people are usually referred in by outreach services or self-refer.