Last year, the number of people sleeping on the streets soared by 27%, reaching nearly 4,000 individuals, according to a Shelter analysis of government figures.
The number of homeless children has also climbed by 14%, with 142,490 children now lacking a permanent home, an increase of 16,960 from the previous year.
Additionally, the number of households without a permanent home but staying in temporary housing has hit a new high, with the count reaching 109,000 – a 10% surge in just one year.
As elections approach, Shelter is urging political parties to commit to constructing 90,000 social homes annually, featuring rent costs that align with local wages, to help tackle the homelessness crisis.
Shelter’s CEO, Polly Neate, stated: “The latest numbers starkly highlight that the government cannot afford to ignore the housing crisis any longer. Not only has the issue of people sleeping outdoors worsened significantly during their time, but we’re also seeing a distressing peak in the number of children stuck in temporary housing.
“We haven’t seen an adequate number of social homes built in years, and with rental prices reaching new heights, many are left with no choice but to endure cold nights outdoors or cram into substandard hostels and bed-and-breakfasts far from their communities, where children may even have to share beds.
“The government and political parties need to confront this glaring crisis. Immediate temporary housing should be offered to all those facing the threat of living on the streets. However, the ultimate solution lies in the government and parties across the board committing to building a substantial number of affordable and high-quality social housing units – we’re talking about 90,000 each year.”
Back in 2019, the Conservative government pledged to eliminate the problem of rough sleeping by the year 2024.
