London is facing an ‘increasingly unmanageable’ crisis, with approximately one in 50 people in temporary accommodation and a forecast deficit of almost £2.5m across boroughs’ homelessness services, according to London Councils.
Research by the cross-party group has revealed that London boroughs are collectively spending an estimated £60m each month on temporary accommodation.
London Councils said the net deficit across boroughs’ homelessness services was on course to reach £244m in 2023-24.
A ‘skyrocketing’ number of homeless families are staying in bed and breakfast accommodation beyond the legal six-week limit. London Councils said the number had increased by 781% from April 2022-23.
The stark figures also reveal that there are 83,500 children living in temporary accommodation across the capital.
London Councils said its survey of boroughs provided a more up-to-date overview than the Government’s homelessness data, for which there is a six-month lag to publication.
Cllr Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ executive member for regeneration, housing and planning, said one in 50 homeless Londoners was an ‘appalling’ statistic.
He said the cross-party group was especially concerned by the number of families stuck in B&Bs, but boroughs often faced a ‘total lack’ of other options.
Cllr Rodwell added: ‘Homelessness pressures across the capital are fast becoming unmanageable. Ministers need to treat this as the emergency it clearly is. Much more action is needed to help low-income households avoid homelessness and to reverse the rising numbers relying on temporary accommodation.’
