A charity leader claims spiralling rents are forcing children into what he calls “damp and mouldy B&Bs”.

Matt Downie, chief executive of the homelessness charity Crisis, makes the comment following the release of government data showing that between January and March this year some 86,520 households approached their local council for homelessness assistance and were deemed eligible for support. 

This represented an increase of 6% on the same quarter last year, and the highest since 2018 when the Homelessness Reduction Act was introduced and official figures started to be recorded.

“Rising rents, increasing living costs and a lack of affordable housing means that thousands of children are now being forced to call a damp and mouldy B&B a home. This is shameful.  No child should have to watch their meals being warmed up on a radiator or grow up not knowing what it feels like to have their own room” says Downie

“We are at a crossroads and unless we take a different course of action, we risk seeing the homelessness system completely collapse. That is why we’re calling on the government to increase council funding in the immediate term, so that those needing support have a safe place to stay now. Going forward, alongside the positive steps to build more social housing we need a unit for ending homelessness to be established at the heart of government. Only this action will put us on a path to ensuring that everyone has the security of a safe home.”

Additional government figures show that 94,560 households received an initial assessment and sought help from their council between January and March this year – up by 11% since the same period last year. Of these households, 86,520 were accepted by councils as being owed a duty of support – up by 6% from 2023. 

There were 117,450 households in temporary accommodation on 31 March 2024, a 12% increase from 31 March 2023. Households in temporary accommodation with children increased by 15% to 74,530.

With councils drastically running out of suitable emergency accommodation, 17,750 households were placed in bed and breakfasts, this has increased by 30% on same period last year.  This included 5,550 households with children – a 44% rise from January to March 2023.

Crisis is calling on the Westminster government to establish a new unit for ending homelessness, backed by the prime minister, and says: “This would enable the government to deliver on its manifesto promise of creating a cross-government strategy for ending homelessness and ensure steps are taken to bring these numbers down.”