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Record 159,000 children homeless in temporary accommodation – up 15% in a year
Shelter press release 28 November 2024.
New government statutory homelessness figures released this winter reveal yet another shocking record, with 159,380 children now homeless and living in temporary accommodation - a 15% increase in a year and the highest figure since records began in 2004.
The number of households living in temporary accommodation has also hit another record 123,100, up 16% on last year.
One in three households (32% or almost 39,000) in temporary accommodation are now placed out of area – up by 39% from a year ago. More and more families are being placed in accommodation miles away from their support networks, jobs and children's schools.
The figures also show that there are 9,550 families with children stuck in B&Bs and hostels. Government rules say families should only be put in B&B accommodation as a last resort and only for a maximum of six weeks. B&Bs and hostels are considered some of the worst type of temporary accommodation as families are often cramped into one room, forced to share kitchens and bathrooms with strangers and where children have no space to play and are unable to have friends over. Sadly, this accommodation is far from temporary, with separate government data showing one in five families (21%) in B&Bs and hostels have been there for over a year.
Children homeless in temporary accommodation hits shameful new record of 151,000 – up 15% in a year
Shelter press release 8 August 2024.
Two separate sets of statistics released by the government on 8th August reveal the extent of England’s rapidly escalating housing emergency.
The new statutory homelessness figures, which cover the period January to March 2024, reveal:
The number of children who are homeless and living in temporary accommodation with their families in England has rocketed to 151,630 - an increase of 15% in a year - and the highest figure since records began in 2004.
The number of homeless families living in emergency accommodation such as B&Bs and hostels has reached 8,860 – a rise of 29% in a year. This type of emergency accommodation is notoriously overcrowded, expensive and unsuitable.
Overall there are now a record 117,450 homeless households living in temporary accommodation in England – the highest figure ever and up 12% in a year.
The loss of a private tenancy remains the leading trigger of homelessness accounting for more than one in four households found to be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.