London and Greater Manchester account for almost two-thirds of temporary accommodation placements in England, a new study has revealed.
A report from the New Smith Institute warns that a combination of the benefit freeze, overcrowding, the lack of affordable accommodation, and the cost-of-living crisis, is pushing the temporary accommodation (TA) system to ‘crisis point’.
The use of temporary accommodation has increased over the last decade and is now back to the record levels last seen in the mid-2000s, according to the think tank.
Most of the increase has been driven by London and Greater Manchester, which combined account for 63% of all TA in England.
The number of children living in TA in London has increased by almost 60% between 2011-2022. On current trends the numbers of children in temporary accommodation in London and Greater Manchester could reach 100,000 by next year, the report warns.
The report’s authors conclude with a call for a ‘major overhaul’ of the homelessness and temporary accommodation system, including increased investment in new move-on social housing and rehousing programmes where councils buy and refurbish local properties.
They also recommend reforming the benefit system to make temporary accommodation affordable, extra funding for adaptations and new hostels, as well as rent support and help improving housing standards.
Paul Hackett, director of the Smith Institute and co-author of the report, said: ‘London and Greater Manchester now account for two-thirds of all temporary accommodation in England. With homelessness increasing and fewer properties available, many boroughs are struggling to cope. The temporary accommodation system needs an urgent overhaul, including helping councils lease, buy and convert more properties for families who are struck in temporary accommodation – some for years.’
