Rough sleeping soars by a third and over 100,000 households living in temporary accommodation

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The variety of folks sleeping tough has soared by 27 per cent in a 12 months with charities calling on politicians to behave on “an escalating crisis”.

Over 100,000 households – two-thirds of that are households with kids – are additionally living in temporary accommodation, authorities figures launched on Thursday present.

Last 12 months, 3,898 folks have been recorded as sleeping on the streets – a rise of virtually a third on 2022’s determine, say the statistics. The authorities takes a snapshot of tough sleeping on a single night time in autumn every year.

The newest figures are nonetheless lower than the height in 2017 however greater than double the variety of folks who have been sleeping tough in 2010, when information started.

The determine can be prone to be an underestimate as folks sleeping in hidden or shifting areas, corresponding to on public transport, are prone to be missed, homelessness charities mentioned.

The variety of households living in temporary accommodation has additionally elevated by 10.3 per cent 12 months on 12 months, to 109,000 in 2023.

Data from the Department of Levelling Up confirmed that road homelessness is rising amongst ladies, with 568 recorded as tough sleeping final autumn up from 464 the 12 months earlier than. UK nationals stay the largest proportion of individuals discovered to be sleeping tough at 62 per cent.

Labour’s shadow homelessness minister, Mike Amesbury, mentioned that the most recent knowledge confirmed the “true human cost of the lack of social housing built by this government over the past 14 years.”

He added: “It is unacceptable to have over 142,000 children in temporary accommodation. We must get Britain building houses, hopes and dreams”.

Charities accused the federal government of permitting tough sleeping to “more than double on their watch”.

Polly Neate, chief govt of Shelter, mentioned: “We haven’t built enough social homes in decades, and with rents at a record high, thousands of people are being forced to spend their nights freezing on street corners. Meanwhile families are being pushed into grim hostels and B&Bs miles away from their support networks and where children have to share beds.

“Ignoring a crisis of this magnitude cannot continue”.

Matt Downie, chief govt at Crisis, mentioned the size of tough sleeping “is now a source of national shame”.

He added: “Through our frontline services we hear directly from people who have been spat at, urinated on or attacked simply because they do not have the security of a safe home. Things have got to change.

​“To bring these numbers down, we urgently need the Westminster government to put long-term funding into the proven solutions we know help people to leave the streets behind, such as Housing First.”

Fiona Colley, at Homeless Link, mentioned the info “points to a situation that is out of control and demands emergency action”.

The largest enhance in the variety of folks estimated sleeping tough was in London, which noticed a rise of 32 per cent in the previous 12 months.

A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson mentioned they have been spending £2.4bn to assist folks susceptible to homelessness and assist tough sleepers. They added: “Whilst we have made good progress and rough sleeping remains below pre-pandemic levels, there is more work to be done to meet our ambition to end it entirely and we will continue to work with local authorities to help people off the streets for good.

“Temporary accommodation is a vital safety net to make sure families are not left without a roof over their heads, but councils must make sure it is suitable for families.”