The number of homeless families living in temporary accommodation in England has risen to 43,750 – the highest since June 2009 and an increase of 7 per cent on the previous year, according to government figures.
That means the number of homeless children living in tem
porary accommodation now stands at 80,950; the highest it has been since September 2009.
Shelter is calling on the government to strengthen the help it provides to families when they fall on hard times, to give them a chance to get back on their feet without losing their home.
The charity’s research shows that almost two thirds (63 per cent) of rent or mortgage payers say they are struggling or falling behind with payments. Alarmingly, two per cent – the equivalent of nearly a million people in Britain – said they had taken out a ‘payday’ loan to help pay the rent or mortgage in the last year.
Julia and her four year old son lived in South London and became homeless after their rented home was flooded last year. They were unable to find another home that they could afford, and had to be housed in emergency B&B accommodation in Croydon.
Julia said: “When we were at the B&B I had to share a bed with my son, and we had to eat our meals on the bed or on the floor. It was so scary not knowing how long we were going to be in the B&B and what would happen to us next.”
Campbell Robb, Shelter’s chief executive said: “Behind these horrendous statistics are families who’ve lost the battle to stay in their home, forced to pack up their belongings and leave everything they know behind. We speak to families every day putting on a brave face for the kids while they move into an emergency bed and breakfast for what could be weeks or even months.
“With so many already living on a financial knife-edge, a job loss or serious illness can be all it takes to tip anyone into a spiral that ends in homelessness.
“These families are being let down by a safety net that’s been cut to shreds. The government must stem this rising tide of homelessness, and do far more to protect those of us who fall on hard times”
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