File variety of households and kids in non permanent lodging, authorities reveals

A file variety of households and kids reside in non permanent lodging in England, authorities figures have revealed.

The announcement got here a day after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated he was “proud” of the progress his authorities had made on housebuilding.

The new information confirmed 104,510 households had been in non permanent lodging to the top of March this 12 months.

This is the biggest determine within the 25 years for the reason that information began being recorded, and was 10% increased than 2022’s quantity.

The whole variety of kids in non permanent lodging additionally reached its highest stage since data for that measure started in 2004 – at 131,370.

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Some 41,950 households had been assessed as homeless and due to this fact entitled to aid responsibility – assist to safe settled housing – by their native authority between January and March this 12 months.

Of these, 11,250 had been households with kids – up 12.1% from the identical quarter final 12 months.

Almost 14,000 households had been residing in mattress and breakfasts as of March – up 37.4% on the 12 months earlier than, and the variety of B&Bs with dependent kids in them rose by 131.2% to three,930 by the top of March.

Of these, 1,840 had been residing there for greater than the statutory restrict of six weeks, the federal government stated – greater than double the 2022 determine.

Just a day earlier than the discharge of the figures, Housing Secretary Michael Gove gave a speech wherein he pledged to extend housebuilding within the UK.

This comes regardless of the federal government watering down its target to build 300,000 new homes a 12 months by the center of the 2020s.

Downing Street claims it’s nonetheless on observe to fulfill its goal.

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Asked whether or not the manifesto pledge of 300,000 new houses a 12 months nonetheless stood, Mr Sunak stated: “We are making progress, I’m proud of that progress and we’re not stopping there.

“But we have to do it in the best approach, I do not need to concrete over the countryside, that is one thing that could be very particular about Britain.”

Speaking today, Matt Downie, the chief executive of Crisis, said: “This is unacceptable. The Westminster authorities could have declared victory yesterday on a pledge to construct a million houses on this parliament, however these figures spotlight how out of contact they’re.”

He blamed a lack of investment in housing benefit and not enough social housing for “trapping” families in temporary accommodation with “only one room, with no services to cook dinner meals or do washing”.

Labour’s shadow homelessness minister, Paula Barker, said the figures were a “shameful indictment” of the government’s record.

“The Conservatives promised to forestall homelessness and finish tough sleeping by the top of subsequent 12 months, however they’re utterly and totally failing, with devastating penalties for 1000’s of households and kids.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: “We are decided to forestall homelessness earlier than it happens. Temporary lodging ensures no household is and not using a roof over their head and we’ve been clear that the usage of B&Bs is all the time a final resort.”

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“Councils must ensure temporary accommodation is suitable for families, who have a right to appeal if they think it does not meet their household’s needs. That’s why we have given £2bn over three years to help local authorities tackle homelessness and rough sleeping, targeted to areas where it is needed most. In London, this includes over £350m funding through the Homelessness Prevention Grant.

“The authorities can also be enhancing availability of social housing. We are dedicated to delivering 300,000 new houses per 12 months and investing £11.5bn to construct the reasonably priced, high quality houses this nation wants.”