Homelessness is a grave problem throughout England.

14 per cent more people are expected to be without a home on the streets of England this Christmas compared to last year, according to a new report. The charity Shelter estimates that 309 550 people will be in some form of homelessness by the end of the year, with most of them spending the night in temporary accommodation and reception centres.

Shelter said the analysis was the most comprehensive overview of recorded homelessness in England, but the organisation warned that the real figure is likely much higher.

England’s spiraling housing crisis is being blamed for the trend. ITV News previously reported that the situation has now pushed a record number of children out of their homes and onto the streets. The analysis comes as London councils warn that refugees and asylum seekers are becoming homeless at an alarming rate as they are being evicted from Home Office accommodation. Many of them have no choice but to sleep on the streets, as underfunded neighbourhoods cannot offer them alternative accommodation.

„The housing emergency is out of control. Chronic under-investment in social homes has left people unable to afford skyrocketing private rents and plunged record numbers into homelessness. It is appalling that the government has allowed thousands of families to be packed into damp and dirty B&Bs and hostel rooms, which are traumatising children and making people desperately ill,”

Shelter Chief executive Polly Neate said.

The number of children living in temporary housing has increased to almost 139,000, the highest ever recorded. At the end of June, around 7,510 families with children were living in hostels or bed & breakfasts, widely agreed to be the worst form of accommodation as families are often cramped into one room and forced to share beds with very limited cooking and washing facilities. However, they have no other option, as many can no longer afford rents, let alone buy a flat.

BREAKING: The number of children living in temporary accommodation in England has increased (again) to 138,000.

That’s an increase of 7,400 in 3 months, official data shows.

Another record broken. A heartbreaking
problem that is only getting worse.

— Daniel Hewitt (@DanielHewittITV) November 30, 2023