England’s temporary accommodation crisis hits a record high

The number of homeless households in England has reached an unprecedented 131,140, government data reveals.

The figure for the end of March is a 12% increase from last year’s 117,350.

Among these, the 169,050 homeless children is also a record high.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s latest figures also highlight that 69,410 – a 23% rise – in households being placed in emergency housing, such as nightly paid bed and breakfasts and hostels.

Meanwhile, between January and March 2025, 83,450 households sought homelessness assistance from local councils, a 6% drop from the same period last year.

Increase housing benefit to help

Homeless charity Crisis has called on the government to act quickly by adjusting housing benefit to cover the lowest third of rental costs.

This, it argues, would provide immediate relief to families while the government pushes ahead with its £39bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme.

That is pledging that at least 60% of its 300,000 planned homes will be for social rent.

The true cost of renting

Matt Downie, the chief executive of Crisis, said: “These figures drive home the need to relieve the pressure on struggling households right now.

“Years of stop-start investment in housing benefit, coupled with the failure of successive governments to build enough social housing, has left record numbers of families across the country unable to find anywhere affordable to live and stuck in temporary accommodation.

“Far too often people are forced to live in poor quality, cramped conditions away from their support networks and without facilities to cook their own meals or do their washing.”

He added: “For those families and individuals in unsuitable temporary accommodation today, the promise of a social home in the years to come can only provide small comfort.

“That’s why it’s crucial the government takes decisive action and restores housing benefit this autumn so that it covers the true cost of renting.”

Unfreeze local housing allowance

Shelter’s director of campaigns and policy, Mairi MacRae, said: ”Over 169,000 children face a long summer stuck in damaging and insecure temporary accommodation.

“This is the devastating result of a severe shortage of social rent homes and inadequate levels of housing benefit that continue to trap families in homelessness.”

She added: “As an immediate relief for struggling families, the government must unfreeze local housing allowance in the Autumn Budget, so it covers at least the bottom third of local rents.”

Ms MacRae also urged the government to start building more social homes for rent and commit to delivering 90,000 homes a year for 10 years.