HOUSEHOLDS LIVING IN TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION RISES BY 75%
The number of households living in temporary accommodation in England has risen by almost 75% this decade, according to the Government’s latest homelessness figures.
A total of 83,700 households were in bed and breakfasts and other temporary accommodation at the end of December 2018, including 124,490 children, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said. Nearly 70 per cent of those were in London alone.
The latest statutory homelessness figures show a 5% rise on the total of 79,720 at the end of December 2018 and a 74.3% rise on the low of 48,010 at the end of 2010.
Analysis of the data also found that a new household in England became homeless, on average, every five minutes over a recent six-month period.
Amanda Dubarry, Chief Executive of Caritas Anchor House, said “The levels of homelessness in England right now are at crisis point. We need change to help improve people’s housing situation across the country, and particularly in the London Borough of Newham, which has the worst levels of homelessness in the country.
“That’s why services such as ours are so important, to act as a safety net for those who are suffering as a result of crippling rents, frozen benefits and endless waiting lists for social housing. Caritas Anchor House has 140 bed spaces for those experiencing homelessness, 20 of which are dedicated to our Rough Sleepers Assessment Hub – supporting people off the streets.
“Ultimately, the ever-increasing levels of homelessness will not stop until more social housing is built. We’re pleased to see that Newham has exceeded a key housing pledge made last year, by starting to build 227 new council homes, but with around 25,000 on the housing waiting list in the borough, so much more is needed.”
By several measures, the London Borough of Newham has the worst housing crisis in the UK.
One in 24 people in the borough are homeless, the highest proportion in the country. The borough has the largest gap in the country between the social housing that becomes available each year (588 homes) and the number of families waiting for it (25,729). It also has the highest number of households in temporary accommodation (4,949).
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