New figures from the Government published this month have revealed that by December 2022, there were 101,300 households, including 127,200 children in temporary accommodation.

Numbers like this have not been seen since 2004.

Of the households stuck in temporary accommodation, 12,220 were housed in B&Bs – an increase of 31% compared with the same time last year. Over 5,000 were also in hotels whilst over 26,000 were in nightly paid privately managed accommodation.

The greatest number of households in temporary were in London, a staggering 58,370. Elsewhere in England, two out of every 1,000 households live in temporary accommodation.

The homelessness charity Crisis have said that this includes a disproportionate number of families, with the number households with dependent children in such accommodation more than doubling, with a rise of staggering 129% in a year. They are warning that thousands more could be facing the prospect of being housed in temporary accommodation due to the shortage of genuinely affordable housing across England.

People trapped in temporary accommodation, often living in one room with children, often without cooking or washing facilities. This will result in real damage to physical and mental health.

Between October and December last year, 72,550 families contacted local authorities to seek support with homelessness. This is up almost 5% on the same three-month period a year earlier.

Why is homelessness at such a high rate and what can be done?

The loss of private rented tenancies was the most common reason why councils have had to step in to prevent homelessness. In 63% of those cases, it was because Landlords wished to sell or re-let their property. The cost-of-living crisis, along with the serious shortage of affordable housing has sent rent to record highs and caused house prices to soar.

The Government has last week published its new Renters Reform Bill. This lays out a plan to end Section 21, no-fault evictions which allow Landlord to evict tenants without a reason. Just over 5,000 households needed Council support just between October and December of last year.

There is clearly a need for the Government to urgently increase the number of good quality affordable homes.