Homeless families set to pass 100,000

16 Sep 04
The number of homeless families living in temporary accommodation is set to exceed 100,000 for the first time.

17 September 2004

The number of homeless families living in temporary accommodation is set to exceed 100,000 for the first time.

Figures published this week show that, by the end of the second quarter of 2004, a record 99,380 households were homeless.

While government attention has been focused on removing families with children from bed and breakfast accommodation, overall homelessness has been rising. June's figure, announced on September 13, represents a 9% increase on the corresponding period in 2003.

Earlier this year, ministers celebrated news that the number of families in B&Bs had plummeted from 4,800 to 830 in one year. But since March, this figure has risen to 1,050 – an increase of 27%.

Under new legislation, councils are only allowed to place families with children in B&Bs for emergency periods of six weeks.

Jim Bennett, policy manager at the housing charity Shelter, said: 'A large part of the increase in numbers is down to the shortage of social housing.'

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