The homelessness crisis is pushing councils to their limits, with kids in B&Bs far beyond legal stays. Urgent action is needed now.
London: It’s a tough time for families in England. A lot of kids are stuck in B&Bs, and it’s way over the legal limit. The homelessness crisis is really hitting hard, and councils are feeling the strain.
MPs are sounding the alarm, saying we need serious housing reform. With affordable homes in short supply, local councils are spending a fortune on temporary housing. It’s like they’re trying to patch a sinking ship with a bucket that has holes.
Temporary accommodation is supposed to be a quick fix, but it’s turning into a long-term stay for many. Some kids are spending years in these places, which is just heartbreaking. The numbers are climbing, especially in London and the South East.
In fact, the use of B&Bs has skyrocketed. From just 4,400 households in 2014, it jumped to a staggering 18,400 by 2024. And guess what? About 6,000 of those households have kids, with many staying longer than the six-week legal limit.
This situation is costing councils a ton of money. B&Bs, which should only be for emergencies, are now the biggest expense in homelessness budgets. They spent nearly £724 million on them last year, which is more than triple what they spent a decade ago.
Overall, the costs for temporary housing have shot up from £1.6 billion to around £2.1 billion in just a year. The Public Accounts Committee is calling for a solid plan to tackle this crisis.
Even though there’s a homelessness strategy for other parts of the UK, England is lagging behind. The committee chair, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, said local authorities are struggling to keep up with the demand.
MPs are also pushing the government to rethink its housing benefit rates. Many families are facing a rent shortfall, which is only getting worse with the lack of affordable housing.
The government has promised to build 1.5 million homes, but they haven’t specified how many will be affordable. Sir Geoffrey is worried about families living in poor conditions far from their old homes.
He stressed the need for a comprehensive strategy to connect different government departments and tackle the root causes of homelessness. Without it, we’re just throwing money at a problem without fixing it.
