Council leaders in London have called for emergency action to tackle homelessness which they warn is ‘spiralling out of control’.
London Councils say the latest Government figures show the highest levels of homelessness in England since 2005 and warn that the situation is especially serious in the capital.
Its analysis suggests there are 166,000 homeless Londoners living in temporary accommodation.
The group, which represents all 32 boroughs in the capital and the City of London, is calling on the Government to provide emergency funding to meet rising levels of demand for support and an increase in discretionary housing payments.
Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ executive member for regeneration, housing and planning, said: ‘These figures are the latest evidence of a homelessness crisis spiralling out of control.
‘The situation is particularly bad in London due to the combination of cost-of-living pressures, a chronic shortage of affordable housing, and with rising rents and fewer properties available in the private rented sector.
‘Boroughs do everything we can to support homeless households, but things cannot go on as they are.’
He added: ‘Emergency action is needed from the government to help households avoid homelessness and to reduce the number in temporary accommodation.’
