Is £1bn Enough to End England's Homelessness Crisis
Local councils in England have spent an unprecedented £1 billion on temporary accommodation for homeless families over the past year. This marks a more than 50% increase from the previous year, driven by the rising number of families living in short-term housing, which includes over 150,000 children.
Surge in Spending on Hostels and B&Bs
Councils have allocated £417 million to place families in hostels and bed and breakfast accommodations, reflecting a 63% rise from the previous year. The Labour government has acknowledged that it inherited a severe housing crisis, which has resulted in families being trapped in temporary housing.
Government's Response and Future Plans
A spokesperson for the housing ministry stated that the government is committed to delivering 1.5 million homes and preventing homelessness by banning no-fault evictions. However, experts point out that rising private rents, a lack of new housing developments, and increasing eviction rates have exacerbated the homelessness crisis.
The Struggles of Families in Temporary Housing
Romel Peters, 37, and her two young sons are among the 117,000 households currently living in temporary accommodation. After being served a no-fault eviction by her private landlord, Romel has been stuck in temporary housing in London for over a year. The family shares a single room, with “filthy” cooking and washing facilities shared with other tenants.
Romel expressed her frustration, saying, "I can’t even describe how dirty the place is. I don’t cook here; my family brings us food, or I cook at my mum’s house." She is also concerned about the impact on her children, who have little space to play or do their homework.
Council Support and Relocation Challenges
Despite being on the local council’s housing list for nearly a decade, Romel was told she was no longer eligible for housing assistance because she had previously rented privately. The council has now suggested relocating the family to temporary accommodation three hours away in West Bromwich. Romel refused, unwilling to leave her family and the children’s school behind. As a result, the council has withdrawn its support, leaving the family at risk of becoming homeless again, as Romel cannot afford the high cost of private rent.
Rising Rent Costs Across the UK
The Office for National Statistics reports that average rent increases across the UK have ranged from 8.6% in England to 8.2% in Scotland and 7.9% in Wales. Northern Ireland has seen a 10% increase in the year leading up to May 2024. High inflation, partly due to the Covid pandemic and rising energy prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has kept rent prices elevated.
Calls for Long-Term Solutions
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, criticised the continued spending on temporary accommodation, calling it "absurd" to invest in short-term fixes rather than in long-term solutions. She emphasized the need to build more social homes, stating, “Too many children are being forced to grow up homeless in grotty, cramped hostels and B&Bs, sharing beds with their siblings, with no place to play or do their homework.”
Shelter and other housing charities are urging the government to build 90,000 social homes over the next decade. They argue that the true cost of homelessness is even higher, with £2.3 billion spent on temporary accommodation once housing benefit, funded by the government, is factored in.
Housing Pressure Across the UK
The housing crisis is not confined to England. Scotland has declared a national housing emergency and is providing targeted funding of £2 million in 2023-2024 to local authorities facing the greatest pressures in temporary accommodation. In Wales, spending on temporary housing has skyrocketed from £5.6 million in 2018 to £42.9 million in 2022, a seven-fold increase. Northern Ireland is also struggling, with the Housing Executive reporting 11,000 placements in temporary accommodation, compared to just 3,000 before the Covid pandemic.
