Homeless target slips further away

15 Sep 05
A key government target for reducing the number of families in temporary accommodation is likely to be missed, according to new figures.

16 September 2005

A key government target for reducing the number of families in temporary accommodation is likely to be missed, according to new figures.

As the latest homelessness statistics showed the numbers without permanent homes still exceeding 100,000, an Office of the Deputy Prime Minister projection suggested that it was unlikely to halve the figure by 2010, as had been hoped.

Instead, the ODPM's business plan for 2005/06, published on September 6, predicted that there will still be an estimated 60,000 households living in temporary accommodation by the end of the decade.

When Labour came to power in 1997, the number of homeless people stood at 41,250. This week's figures, based on the three-month period to June 2005, show 100,970 in temporary accommodation – up 1% on 12 months earlier.

According to the ODPM, the projection for 2010 will shortly be revised to take account of the government's latest homeless strategy, published in March, which pledges to halve the total to about 50,000.

But Adam Sampson, director of Shelter, said it was the first indication of how tricky it will be to hit the target unless the number of affordable homes built for rent is increased dramatically.

Calling on Chancellor Gordon Brown to commit an extra £1.25bn per year to new housing and provide an additional 60,000 properties, Sampson said: 'These homes could help to lift 150,000 children out of bad housing that is ruining their health, education and wellbeing.'

The latest homelessness statistics, published on September 12, show that 72% of households in temporary accommodation include dependent children. Of these 1,300, or 2%, were in bed and breakfast accommodation – 130 for more than six weeks. The use of B&B for families with children for more than six weeks was supposedly outlawed in April 2004.

Housing minister Yvette Cooper said she was encouraged by the fact the number of young people sleeping rough was 75% lower than in 1998. She announced a new £2m Working Future scheme to help families out of temporary accommodation.

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