Housing charity Crisis says this includes people being forced to sleep on the streets and in unsuitable temporary accommodation such as nightly-paid B&Bs and hostels
Almost 300,000 families are experiencing the worst forms of homelessness, according to a new report on the growing emergency.
Charity Crisis says this includes people being forced to sleep on the streets and in unsuitable temporary accommodation such as nightly-paid B&Bs and hostels.
It shows 299,100 households in England faced acute homelessness in 2024 – a 21% increase since 2022 and a staggering 45% hike since 2012 when the figure was 206,400.
The charity’s report says: “These increases have been driven by inflation squeezing real incomes and increasing poverty and destitution, private rents rising alongside evictions, and social rented lettings declining.” Without urgent action the charity warns it could reach a staggering 360,000 by 2041.
The state of the nation report – commissioned by Crisis and led by Heriot-Watt University – also found 70% of councils have experienced an increase in the number of residents approaching them for homelessness support. London and town halls in the north of England record the biggest hikes.
READ MORE: ‘Prince William continues Diana’s legacy with homeless project’, says Gordon BrownREAD MORE: Mayors get boost to help families in desperate need of homes – see funding for areas
Ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s Budget on November 26, Crisis is calling for housing benefit to be restored to reflect private rents. Matt Downie, Chief Executive at Crisis, said: “These shocking new findings require a rapid response from the UK Government.
“No one should be forced to live in unsafe conditions, whether it’s children in poor-quality B&Bs or people having to sleep on the streets, in tents or in squats. “
He said ministers must deliver on the manifesto promise to get the country “back on track to ending homelessness”. He added: “Homelessness can also be prevented by fixing gaps in support services, so that people do not end up with nowhere to live after leaving institutions like prisons and hospitals.
“With winter approaching, and pressure on councils expected to grow, Westminster must take this opportunity to fix the sharpest end of the housing crisis.”
A government spokesman said: “Everyone deserves a safe place to call home, which is why we are investing more than £1 billion in homelessness services, launching a cross-government homelessness strategy, and investing a record £39 billion in affordable and social housing.
“This is alongside accelerating efforts to tackle the root causes of homelessness by working across government to ensure support is in place for those most at risk, abolishing Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, and expanding access to safe accommodation.”