Nearly 250,000 people are living in temporary accommodation due to a ‘chronic shortage’ of social homes and an ‘over-reliance’ on expensive private renting, according to a homelessness charity.

An analysis of official homelessness figures and responses to a freedom of information request by the charity Shelter found that at least 271,000 people are recorded as homeless in England, including 123,000 children.

Shelter’s research found that 2,400 people are sleeping rough on any given night, 15,000 people are in hostels or supported accommodation and nearly 250,000 are living in temporary accommodation – most of whom are families.

The number of people living in temporary accommodation has risen by an alarming 74% in the last 10 years – something the charity argues is driven by the ‘chronic shortage’ of social homes, and an ‘over-reliance’ on grossly expensive and unstable private renting.

The charity also learnt that more than two-thirds of families (68%) living in temporary accommodation have been there for over a year.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: ‘With private rents and living costs continuing to soar, thousands of people are not just facing a winter of worry, they are at risk of losing the roof over their head. At Shelter, we are bracing ourselves for a sharp rise in homelessness in 2023.’

Shelter’s research also revealed that one in 58 Londoners is homeless. Responding to the research, Cllr Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ executive member for Regeneration, Housing & Planning, said: ‘These devastating figures reveal that London remains the epicentre of the homelessness crisis.

‘Everyone deserves a permanent home, but the chronic shortage of affordable housing in the capital means too many Londoners find themselves homeless and reliant on temporary accommodation arranged by their local council. The numbers are so high they are equivalent to the entire population of a London borough.

‘We’re concerned that cost-of-living pressures mean this desperate situation will get even worse before it gets better. Councils across the capital are seeing more and more residents turning to us for help.

‘We urgently need renewed action on tackling homelessness, especially through making better use of the welfare system to help low-income households with their housing costs and through investing in the new affordable homes our communities are crying out for.’