Record High Child Homelessness: A National Scandal Spurs Urgent Calls for Government Action

'National disgrace' as child homelessness hits unprecedented levels

Municipal leaders are urging immediate government intervention to address the soaring numbers of individuals dependent on temporary housing provided by local councils.

Political correspondent @alixculbertson

Thursday, August 8, 2024, 5:

An increase in the number of families residing in temporary housing has led local authorities in England to urge the government to address the homelessness issue.

According to the most recent figures from the government, the count of households residing in temporary housing in England surged by 12.3%, reaching an unprecedented total of 117,450 in the year leading up to March 2024.

The number of families with children living in temporary housing rose by 14.7% over a year, reaching 74,530.

As of the latest count, 151,630 children were residing in temporary housing, representing a 15% rise from the figures reported at the end of March the previous year. This is the greatest number recorded since tracking began in 2004.

The number of single-person households has risen by 8.5%, reaching a total of 42,920

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Local governments are required by law to offer temporary housing to individuals facing homelessness as they assist them in securing a long-term housing solution.

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While local governments receive partial financial support from the federal level for these initiatives, numerous are experiencing fiscal strains. They are compelled to tap into local budgets, reallocating resources from different sectors or accruing debt.

The District Councils' Network, which includes 169 councils in England, has penned a letter to Housing Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, urging the government to adjust funding based on recent statistics.

The letter has also been endorsed by the homelessness charity Crisis and the Local Government Association, a body representing local authorities.

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Sky News recently disclosed unique information from London's municipal authorities revealing a 25% increase over the past year in the expenses for temporary housing for the homeless. This rise is attributed to landlords opting for private renters or selling their properties.

They are also being forced to turn to costly, and frequently insufficient, hotels and bed-and-breakfasts, a trend seen nationwide.

This cost is pushing some London local authorities toward possible insolvency.

Information published last Friday indicates that a significant cause of homelessness continues to be eviction notices issued by private landlords.

Of the households facing the threat of homelessness, 45.5% or 17,480 were renting in the private sector, marking a 2% reduction compared to last year.

The number of households that received eviction notices increased to 6,630, marking a rise of 1.2%.

The letter dispatched by the District Councils' Network on Thursday describes the financial burden on councils as "unsustainable," noting that numerous councils in England are now allocating between 20% and 50% of their entire net budget to temporary housing.

Over the last half-decade, district councils have seen their expenditures on temporary housing surge by over 200%, the report noted.

The most recent figures indicate that expenditure on temporary housing rose by 9% to £1.74 billion in the year ending March 2023, compared to the year before.

Due to increased demand for accommodation over the last year coupled with escalating prices, expenditure in this area has undoubtedly continued to climb.

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Demands to alter financial allocations

Charity Crisis has expressed concern that financial strains are affecting local governments' capacity to avert homelessness. They note that funds are increasingly being diverted to manage immediate emergencies rather than focusing on preventative measures.

The latest statistics reveal that the primary reason councils owe support to homeless individuals is mental health issues, affecting 22,500 people, or 26% of the total.

The document urges the authorities to:

• Pledge to adjust Local Housing Allowance rates each year to match changes in private rental costs.

• Eliminate the limitation on housing benefit subsidies (which have been held at the levels of 2011) – this refers to the sum local authorities can request from the government for short-term housing

• Pledge to sustain investment to build 100,000 annually-rented social homes over the next 15 years

• Establish a significant financial reserve that allows local authorities to quickly develop or procure truly affordable homes for individuals facing the threat of homelessness.

• Create a dedicated division focused on eradicating homelessness, setting specific goals and securing sufficient, sustained financial support.

The message stated: "Immediate and firm measures are necessary, as we are concerned that additional councils will have to reduce essential preventive services. This could lead to a worsening cycle that intensifies the homelessness issue and increases expenses for taxpayers."

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"The moment has come to move beyond piecemeal solutions; a fundamental change is necessary to shift focus from simply managing homelessness to completely preventing it."

Ms. Rayner stated, "We are dealing with an unprecedented housing crisis, the likes of which we haven't seen in our lifetimes, and homelessness continues to be at peak levels. This situation is absolutely a national disgrace."

Immediate measures are necessary to resolve this issue. This is why we are collaborating with various government sectors and local authorities to formulate a comprehensive plan aimed at permanently eradicating homelessness.

Efforts are already in progress to prevent homelessness before it starts.

"This entails launching the largest expansion of social and affordable housing construction seen in decades, eliminating Section 21 'no fault' evictions, and introducing a multi-million pound initiative aimed at securing housing for families who are most vulnerable to homelessness."

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According to the homeless charity Mungo, 70% of the homeless individuals they have recently aided reported that mental health issues were a source of distress or an obstacle in their path to recovery.

A representative stated: "The uncertainty of securing your next meal or having a place to sleep at night can lead to severe stress and anxiety."

"Yet, inadequate mental health can isolate individuals from the essential services designed to assist them in overcoming homelessness, including targeted mental health support."

"We must integrate efforts addressing homelessness with mental health services, and we are committed to collaborating with both state and local authorities to develop comprehensive solutions."

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