New homelessness figures published by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) show that 2,090 families with children in England were living in a B&B at the end of June – the highest level in 10 years.
In speaking to the BBC the Chief Executive of Shelter, Campbell Robb, said “Ordinary families are falling through the net and risk losing everything,” and “We’re worried about the thousands more just behind them who are living on a knife-edge, where all it takes is a sudden job loss or illness to tip a family into a downward spiral that can put their home at risk.”
Shelter reports that the DCLG’s homelessness statistics also show a steady increase in the number of families losing their homes. Nearly three in ten households accepted as homeless between April and June lost their home because their landlord simply decided to stop letting it to them.