New targets aim to prevent households from falling into homelessness, as hotel and B&B placements for families surge by nearly 7%.
The British government has set an ambitious target to reduce long-term rough sleeping by 50% within the next four years. This pledge comes as official data shows the number of households living in temporary accommodation has reached an unprecedented 134,760. The cost of maintaining families in hotels and bed-and-breakfasts has become a major fiscal pressure for local councils, particularly as the number of families with children in these settings continues to climb.
To support this goal, a £50 million injection for frontline services was confirmed on Thursday. However, advocacy groups argue that the government’s single-night snapshot data, which counted 4,793 people last autumn, likely underestimates the true volume of the crisis. They contend that the figures fail to account for “hidden homelessness,” such as those sofa-surfing or living in precarious, unrecorded arrangements.
Regional Disparities and Funding Gaps
While the government focuses on national halving targets, regional disparities remain stark. The North East has seen the fastest growth in street homelessness, while London remains the primary hub for rough sleeping. Critics suggest that without a more robust focus on the specific needs of the north, the 2030 target may remain out of reach. Current funding is intended to provide a three-year buffer for services, but charity leaders question if this will suffice as the cost of living continues to erode housing security for UK-born citizens.
SOURCES: UK Government Press Office, Crisis (Homelessness Charity), London Assembly Housing Committee.
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