A sharp rise in families living in temporary accommodation has prompted calls from English councils for the government to deal with the homelessness crisis.
The total number of people living in temporary accommodation across England rose by 12.3% to a record 117,450 households in the year up to March 2024, the latest government data shows.
Families with children in temporary accommodation increased by 14.7% in a year to 74,530.
There were 151,630 children living in temporary accommodation. That marks an increase of 15% compared with the end of March last year and is the highest figure since this measure began in 2004.
Meanwhile, single households increased by 8.5% to 42,920.
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Councils have a legal duty to provide emergency interim accommodation to homeless people while they help them look for a permanent solution.
Local authorities get some funding from the government for this, but many are facing financial difficulties as they are having to dig into their own coffers, taking funding away from other areas or going into debt.
The District Councils’ Network, representing 169 English councils, has written to Housing Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to call for the government to make funding changes off the back of the latest data.
Homeless charity Crisis and the Local Government Association, which speaks for local government, have also signed the letter.
Sky News reported exclusive data from London councils last week that showed the cost of temporary accommodation for homeless people in London had soared by 25% in the past year due to landlords…
