The number of households in temporary accommodation in England has reached a record high of 131,140, despite fewer families living in bed and breakfast lodgings. The figure represents a sharp increase from 117,350 households a year earlier and more than doubles the total from a decade ago.
The crisis has particularly affected children, with 169,050 now living in temporary accommodation as of March. This marks the highest number since records began in 1998 and represents an increase of 17,510 children compared to the previous year.
Children in emergency accommodation
By law, bed and breakfasts should only be used as emergency temporary accommodation for no longer than six weeks. However, 2,300 households with children had been living in B&Bs for more than six weeks as of March 31, though this figure has dropped from 3,240 a year earlier.
A further 1,170 households with children had been in B&Bs for more than six months at the end of March. This represents a slight increase from 1,080 the previous year, though it marks a decrease from the 1,510 recorded in December 2024.
Charity calls for action
John Glenton, executive director at the charity Riverside, described the numbers as "greatly concerning". The charity provides accommodation for people affected by homelessness and has called for urgent action to address the crisis.
Glenton highlighted some positive developments, noting that the number of homeless households moved from temporary accommodation into social housing had increased by almost an eighth over the past 12 months. He praised the Government's commitment to fund 180,000 new social rent homes but suggested better use of existing social housing stock.
Asylum seekers face housing crisis
The data reveals a significant increase in households needing homelessness help after leaving Home Office asylum support accommodation. Some 18,140 households required assistance in the year to March, more than three times the 6,010 in the previous 12 months.
Of these households, 4,620 were at risk of homelessness and needed prevention help from councils in 2024/25, up from 2,160 in 2023/24. A further 13,520 households were assessed as already homeless and owed relief duty from local councils, rising from 3,850 the previous year.
(PA/London) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
