6 June 2013

Government figures released today show that the number of homeless households in England has risen by 6% over the past year, to the highest in five years.

The figures also show a 14% rise in the number of people living in B&Bs. Shelter is warning that cuts to the housing safety net, added to the rising cost of housing, are already having a real impact.

B&B-style accommodation often means a single room for an entire family with no cooking facilities and a shared bathroom, sometimes miles away from their jobs and support networks. Though there is a legal requirement limiting this to six weeks for families, many have to stay in this situation for weeks, or even months.

Shelter is also worried that today's figures mask a further group of 'hidden homeless'; families who have lost their home but may not be counted in official statistics due to recent changes in the way councils handle homelessness applications.