According to official statistics, the rate of homelessness in England has reached its highest level since 2018 due to government policies forcing a record number of families to reside in temporary housing.

Approximately 79,840 households were owed assistance from local authorities to address homelessness or the risk of homelessness, with experts blaming a “shameful” shortage of social housing.

Approximately 105,000 households were residing in temporary housing, an increase of 10% from the previous year and the highest number since records began in 1998. 

This number included more than 131,000 children, the highest level for this indicator since records began being kept in 2004.

While the number has fluctuated over the past few years, charities and statistical institutes have characterised the most recent data as “extremely concerning.”

During the same period in 2022, there were 119,780 minors living in temporary housing. However, this declined from the same period in 2021, when there were 121,300 children.

Campaigners have warned that “the time for empty words on building social homes has long since passed” due to the numbers.

Matt Downie, the CEO of Crisis, stated that families were forced to live in temporary housing due to “the crippling cost of years of no investment in housing benefit and a shameful lack of social house building.”

Additionally, Shelter urged the government to take swift action to prevent the situation from worsening.

Polly Neate, chief executive officer of Shelter, stated, “We need truly affordable housing to end homelessness for good. Michael Gove acknowledges that social housing is essential to resolving the housing crisis, so it is time for his government to begin construction.

“No-fault evictions are fueling homelessness and upending the lives of thousands of families,” Neate added.

Meanwhile, Riverside, another prominent organisation that provides housing for people experiencing homelessness, described the figures as “very concerning.”

Michael Gove, from Housing and Communities, pledged in his manifesto to build 300,000 dwellings per year by the middle of the 2020s but still needs to specify when this would be accomplished.

Prime Minister also stated that the government is on track to achieve its goal of constructing one million homes between 2019 and 2024.

Rick Henderson, chief executive officer of Homeless Link, described the current situation as “serious” and stated that the most recent statistics were “disturbing to read.”

The Salvation Army warned that if the moratorium on housing benefits is not lifted, more families could be forced out of their homes due to rising rents.

Nick Redmore, director of homelessness services for the charity, stated, “Today’s statistics demonstrate that more people than ever are losing the battle to maintain a roof over their heads. The homeless crisis will only worsen if housing benefits are not urgently increased to fund rent.”

The UK is mired in a cost-of-living crisis, with high inflation rates causing people to struggle to pay for necessities and keep up with swiftly rising rental costs.