Homelessness crisis set to soar as Shelter calls for 90,000 social homes a year

A Shelter analysis claims the housing emergency will leave more than 206,000 children homeless by 2029.

The housing charity says that without building 90,000 social homes a year for a decade, the homelessness crisis will only get worse.

According to Shelter, billions of pounds continue to be wasted on temporary accommodation, including hostels, B&Bs and one-room bedsits.

The cost of housing people in temporary accommodation is on track to spiral by 71% to £3.9 billion by 2029, equivalent to £22,000 per household per year.

Number of homeless families set to soar

Shelter analysis reveals the number of homeless households in temporary accommodation could surge by 44% to 182,000, nearly enough to fill a city the size of Bristol.

Mairi MacRae, director of policy and campaigns at Shelter, said: “It is a national shame that so many thousands of children in England are growing up in cramped, insecure temporary accommodation, sharing beds with siblings, eating dinner from trays on their laps, and being moved from one place to the next with no stability. This should never be the reality for any child, but without urgent action, the number of homeless families is set to soar.

“Local councils are buckling under the pressure of the housing emergency, forced to spend billions just to keep people off the streets. It’s nonsensical that we keep sinking tax-payers money into damaging short-term fixes when we could invest in lasting solutions that give families the security and stability of a real home.”

She adds: “The Spending Review in June is a critical moment for the government to act. If they are serious about ending homelessness, they must commit to building 90,000 new social homes a year for a decade, ensuring that every family has the foundation of a genuinely affordable, stable home.”