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Number of children in temporary accommodation up 15% in England, reaching record high

Charity calls on the Westminster Government to set out a bold new approach in its forthcoming homelessness strategy, including unfreezing housing benefit and building 90,000 social homes every year.


The number of children in temporary accommodation in England is at its highest rate since records began, according to government figures released today (Thursday 28th November).

On the 30th June 2024, the number of children in temporary accommodation was 159,380.

This represented an increase of 14.6% on the same quarter last year, and the highest since official figures began being recorded in 2018.

The figures also show:

• There were 123,100 households in temporary accommodation, a rise of 16.3% since 30th June 2023. The number of households with children in temporary accommodation was up by 15.1% to 78,420.

• With councils unable to provide suitable temporary accommodation for everyone, 5,910 households with children were placed in bed and breakfasts, an increase of 31.9% on the previous year. The number of households with children who were stuck in B&Bs for more than six weeks was 3770, an increase of 50.2% on last year.

• Between April and June 2024, 83,240 households approached their local council for homelessness assistance and were deemed eligible for support. This represented an increase of 8.8% on the same quarter last year.

To reverse current trends, Crisis is calling on the Westminster government to be bold and ambitious in its forthcoming strategy on homelessness. The charity is urging clarity on how ministers intend to deliver the 90,000 new social homes a year needed to end homelessness, and an unfreezing of housing benefit so that people can afford to find and keep a safe and settled home.

Responding to the figures, Matt Downie, Chief Executive at Crisis, said:

“These figures are further evidence that the current approach to tackling homelessness is failing.

“It is absolutely heartbreaking that hundreds of thousands of children are being forced to live in substandard temporary accommodation. No child should have to sleep in a damp and mouldy B&B. With the cost of living increasing, the number of social homes being built decreasing, and benefits remaining frozen, this will only get worse unless we adopt a new approach.

“The Westminster government must be courageous through its upcoming homelessness strategy to reverse these trends and put in place solutions that provide safe and affordable accommodation to everyone who needs it. This means ensuring that housing benefit keeps pace with rising rents and building 90,000 social homes every year in order to tackle homelessness in the long term.

“We cannot become desensitized to these statistics. Behind these numbers are struggling parents anxious about how they will keep a safe roof over their children’s heads. These figures are a call for action – and they require an immediate response.”

-Ends-

Notes to Editor


The full statistics for Statutory homelessness in England: April to June 2024 can be seen and downloaded here

 

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