The count of homeless children residing in temporary lodging in England has surged to the highest levels recorded in the past twenty years. Official data indicates that by the end of June, 172,420 children were in families compelled to live in provisional accommodations such as B&Bs and hostels, marking a rise of 13,110 from the previous year’s figures. This marks the first instance the tally has exceeded 170,000 since tracking commenced in 2004, drawing criticism as a “national disgrace” by advocates.
Recent statistics from the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government revealed a total of 132,410 families living in temporary housing. Among them, 3,340 households with children were occupying B&Bs, while 3,590 were residing in hostels. Additionally, 33,530 families with children were in nightly paid and privately managed lodgings.
Housing charity Shelter attributes these alarming numbers to a severe scarcity of social rental homes and inadequate benefit levels that trap families in homelessness. The organization urges the government to adjust the local housing allowance in the upcoming budget and establish an ambitious national goal for the construction of social rent properties. Shelter estimates that 90,000 such homes per year for the next decade are required to eradicate homelessness.
Mairi MacRae, Director of Campaigns and Policy at Shelter, expressed deep concern stating, “It’s utterly shameful that the number of children homeless could now fill a city the size of Oxford.” She emphasized the dire conditions faced by families in temporary lodging, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable solutions to end the homelessness crisis.
Jess McQuail from the Just Fair campaign group described the situation as a national disgrace, emphasizing that behind each statistic lies a child experiencing instability and hardship. John Glenton, Chief Care and Support Officer at Riverside, highlighted the growing humanitarian crisis, noting the strain on funding for supportive housing and homeless prevention services, which has led to closures and decreased capacity in response to the escalating demand.