Homeless children in temporary accommodation hits new record
Rough sleeping has soared by 27% in a year while the number of homeless children in temporary accommodation has hit another record high, according to government figures.
The latest snapshot figures on the number of people sleeping rough in England in 2023 revealed that 3,898 people were recorded sleeping rough on a given night, a 27% rise since 2022.
The number of people sleeping rough in England has more than doubled since 2010 when the data started being collected – up 120%.
Housing charity Shelter said these annual figures were likely to be an underestimate, as people who sleep in less visible locations can be missed.
Separately, new statutory homelessness figures show homelessness reaching new highs in England between July and September 2023:
- 109,000 households are homeless in temporary accommodation – another record high figure and up 10% in a year
- There are 142,490 children who are homeless – another record and up 16,960 (14%) in a year
- In total 78,460 households in England faced homelessness between July and September 2023
With a general election on the horizon, Shelter called on all political parties to commit to ending the housing emergency by building 90,000 social homes a year with rents tied to local incomes.
A report published by Shelter and the National Housing Federation (NHF) said that building 90,000 social homes would not only pay for itself in terms of economic and social benefits within three years, but would add more than £50bn to the economy in the long term.
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: ‘[These] figures are further proof that the government cannot continue to turn a blind eye to the housing emergency. Far from ending rough sleeping, through its own ineffectiveness the government has allowed it to more than double on their watch, while the number of children homeless in temporary accommodation hits yet another shameful high.
‘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. Everyone at risk of street homelessness should be provided with suitable emergency accommodation. But the only lasting solution is for the government and all political parties to commit to build genuinely affordable and good quality social homes – we need 90,000 a year.’
Image: Jon Tyson
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