The number of households in temporary accommodation is at an eight-year high, and has soared by more than 50% since 2010, according to the latest government figures.
In homeless figures published, it is revealed there were 74,630 households in temporary accommodation at the end of September, a 9% increase on the previous year and a 55% jump since 2010. The vast majority – 72% – of these households were in London.
According to Inside Hosuing:
“The last time the number of households in temporary accommodation topped 74,630 was in 2008. The number has been steadily rising over recent years.
There were 6,680 households living in bed and breakfast accommodation, a 13% increase on the previous year. Fifty-one per cent were families with children, and 38% of these 3,390 families had been in bed and breakfast accommodation for more than six weeks.
Nearly a third of households in temporary accommodation had been housed in a different council to the one they had applied to for assistance. Of these, 91% were placed in a different area by London councils.
Councils took action to prevent and relieve homelessness for 52,920 households between July and September, a 3% increase on the same period last year.
Councils received 29,400 applications for housing help between July and September, 2% higher than the same quarter last year. Of these, 51% were accepted as owed a homelessness duty.”