Rise in number of homeless families

At the end of 2012, 76,790 children were living in temporary accommodation

Alex Johnson
Friday 22 March 2013 10:31 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The Government figures out today mean that a family becomes homeless every 15 minutes, according to housing charity Shelter.

In 2012, just over 34,000 households with children were accepted as homeless, a jump of 12 per cent on the previous year. At the end of 2012, 76,790 children were living in temporary accommodation, an annual rise of 11 per cent.

The figures also show an increase in the number of families living in B&Bs, up 29 per cent since the same time last year.

"This is yet more proof of how families across the country are being pushed to breaking point," said Shelter’s Chief Executive Campbell Robb. "The crippling cost of housing, combined with rising prices, flatlining wages and cuts to housing support, is meaning many families are simply no longer able to hold on to the roof over their heads.
 
"We are extremely worried that people already feeling the squeeze because of the recession and benefit reductions will increasingly struggle as further cuts to the housing safety net come in this April."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in