CIH responds to latest statutory homelessness figures

On 30 November 2023, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities released the quarterly homelessness statistics for April to June 2023. These stats provide information on statutory homelessness applications, duties, and outcomes for local authorities in England. It also reports on households in temporary accommodation.

The main headlines include: 

• 14,470 households accepted as owed a main homelessness duty – up 19 per cent from the same quarter last year
• 105,750 households are in temporary accommodation (up 10.5 per cent from the same time last year)
• Households with children in temporary accommodation increased by 13.8 per cent from the same time last year. We also know there are now 138,930 dependent children now living in temporary accommodation
• Of households in temporary accommodation, 14,090 were living in B&Bs up 38 per cent from the same time last year.
• Of households with children in B&Bs, 2,510 had been resident for more than the statutory limit of six weeks - up a staggering 146 per cent from last year
• Over a quarter of households in temporary accommodation are located in different local authority district (80 per cent from London authorities).

Hannah Keilloh, policy and practice officer said at the Chartered Institute of Housing said:

"After decades of under investment in social housing, these figures are disheartening and highlight that many children will now spend much of their childhood living in temporary accommodation.

We know that investment in social housing is the most cost-effective way to tackle homelessness, reduce housing benefit and provide a safety net for families across the UK. We desperately need a cross departmental strategy to end homelessness in all its forms, with a focus on prevention, as Chartered Institute of Housing set out in our homes at the heart strategy for housing."