News
Homelessness in England rises by 11% in three months, says Shelter
Friday 29th July 2022
RYAN BEMBRIDGE
Homelessness in England is worsening, as 74,230 households became homeless or were at imminent risk between January and March 2022.
This includes 25,610 families with children, while it represents and 11% increase in three months, as well as a 5% rise on the same period last year.
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: "Too many people are losing the battle to keep a roof over their heads - struggling to pay rent and put food in their mouths. With homelessness on the rise whoever becomes the next Prime Minister needs to get a grip on this crisis, and fast.
"The housing emergency was already tipping thousands of people into homelessness before the cost of living crisis took hold. Now record-high rents, and crippling food and fuel bills risk sending even more people over the edge - including people who are working every hour they can. Our frontline services hear from families every day who've got nothing left to cut back on.
"High housing costs are a major part of the cost of living crisis, but they are being ignored. To pull struggling renters back from the brink of homelessness, the new Prime Minister must unfreeze housing benefit so people can afford their rent. But to end homelessness for good, building decent social homes with rents pegged to local incomes is the only answer."
Stagnant incomes mean more people are struggling, as the cost of energy has driven inflation northwards.
Shelter called for the government to intervene to prevent a steep rise in homelessness, as renters struggle with the highest private rents on record alongside rocketing household bills.
Despite being in full-time work 10,560 households were found to be homeless or threatened with homelessness.
This is the highest number of people in full-time work recorded as homeless since this government started recording this data in 2018.
According to Shelter one in four (25%) households are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless because of the loss of a private tenancy (18,210 households).
This has increased by 94% in a year and is the second leading trigger of homelessness in England.