Inside Housing – Home – Record high numbers of homeless households and children in temporary accommodation

John Glenton, executive director of care and support at Riverside, said the rise in the number of rough sleepers in London was “worrying”.
He said: “While increases in rough sleeping are more noticeable, it is important to remember that the number of people sleeping rough is unfortunately just the tip of the homelessness iceberg.
“In the 35 years of working in the sector, I’ve never known things to be so bad.”
The government “must provide ring-fenced funding for homelessness services”, Mr Glenton added, and invest more money into the Affordable Homes Programme.
Darren Baxter, principal policy advisor – housing and land at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said the figures show “the human cost of an under-regulated, insecure and unaffordable private rented sector”.
Homelessness will continue to rise unless the government “makes significant changes” to the Renters (Reform) Bill, he added.
Emma Haddad, chief executive of St Mungo’s, said the London rough sleeping figures were “truly devastating”.
“With the mayoral and London Assembly elections this week, and a general election to come, we urge those elected to make ending homelessness a priority,” she added.
Councils have been taking difficult choices to help tackle the crisis, such as Hackney Council, which is looking to lease 300 properties from a newly established real estate investment trust to boost its portfolio of temporary accommodation.
London boroughs are having to take these decisions as spending on temporary accommodation grew by almost 40% last year to reach £90m a month, the latest data has revealed.
A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson said: “We want everyone to have a safe place to call home, which is why we’re giving councils £1.2bn so that they can give financial support to those who need it, helping them to find a new home and move out of temporary accommodation. 
“At the same time, we’ve boosted the local housing allowance, giving the 1.6 million private renters in receipt of housing benefit or universal credit an additional £800 to help towards rental costs.
“Temporary accommodation is a vital safety net to make sure families are not left without a roof over their heads, but councils must make sure it is suitable for families who have a right to appeal if it’s not.”



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