17 June 2005
Homelessness remains at record levels with more than 100,000 families living in temporary accommodation for the third quarter in a row.
Figures published on June 13 show that 101,070 families were in temporary housing at the end of March, virtually the same number as three months earlier and 3% more than in March 2004.
Seven per cent were living in bed and breakfast accommodation, including 1,180 families with children. This includes 110 families that had been placed in B&B for more than six weeks, contravening legislation that came into force last April.
The government claimed it was tackling the problem and that the rate at which people were becoming homeless was slowing down. Homeless acceptances fell to 26,920 in the first quarter of 2005 — 20% lower than in the same period in 2004.
'New local strategies and £200m of investment in preventing homelessness are making a real difference,' said housing minister Yvette Cooper.
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