The number of households with children living in temporary accommodation in England for at least five years has risen by almost a quarter.
The latest official figures show that there were 16,790 such households in some form of temporary accommodation for this length of time. In total, 78,560 households were assessed as homeless and therefore owed a relief duty by councils in 2023/24, up 12.3 per cent from 2022/23.
Factors underlying the increase include a rise in those threatened with homelessness because of the end of an assured shorthold tenancy, or because family or friends are no longer willing to accommodate them.
Cllr Adam Hug, LGA Housing Spokesperson, said: “The increase in the numbers of people who find themselves in this tragic situation shows the scale and urgency of the issues they face. More and more people are having to turn to their local council for homelessness support, and these figures show councils are supporting another record-high number of households living in temporary accommodation.
“The temporary accommodation subsidy gap, currently stuck at 2011 levels, needs to be urgently addressed in the Autumn Budget, as this is driving ever higher spend on temporary accommodation and limiting the resources available for homelessness prevention.
“This is alongside giving councils the powers and resources needed to address the national shortage of affordable housing.”