Mike Amesbury responds to new data revealing a 15% spike in families assessed as homeless

Tuesday, 30 April 2024 12:11

Mike Amesbury MP, Labour's Shadow Minister for Homelessness, responding to new government data published today revealing a 15 per cent spike in the numbers of families initially assessed as homeless in a year, said: “These stats reveal a growing Tory housing emergency being felt by families in every part of the country. Over the past 14 years, the Tories have taken a wrecking ball to the foundation of a secure home, leaving Britain facing a homelessness epidemic....Request free trial

Mike Amesbury MP, Labour's Shadow Minister for Homelessness, responding to new government data published today revealing a 15 per cent spike in the numbers of families initially assessed as homeless in a year, said:

“These stats reveal a growing Tory housing emergency being felt by families in every part of the country. Over the past 14 years, the Tories have taken a wrecking ball to the foundation of a secure home, leaving Britain facing a homelessness epidemic.

“Under this government's watch, kids are growing up in temporary accommodation, coming home from school to do their homework on the bathroom floor of a hotel room and eating dinner perched on their bed.

“Britain's housing crisis is a direct result of the government crashing the economy and failing to get Britain building. It's time for change. Only Labour will put an end no fault evictions and deliver the biggest boost to affordable, social and council housing for a generation, getting new homes built, brick by brick.”

Ends

Notes:

New data here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statutory-homelessness-in-england-october-to-december-2023/statutory-homelessness-in-england-october-to-december-2023#temporary-accommodation
44,760 households were initially assessed as homeless and therefore owed a relief duty, up 15.8 per cent from the same quarter last year. Households with children owed a relief duty increased 9.3 per cent from the same quarter last year to 11,290 households in October to December 2023.
112,660 households were in temporary accommodation on 31st December 2023, up 3.4 per cent from the previous quarter and up 12.1 per cent from the same time last year.
Overall, 71,280 households or 63.3 per cent of households in temporary accommodation included dependent children, with 145,800 dependent children living in temporary accommodation.
34,220 households were assessed as being threatened with homelessness, and therefore owed a prevention duty which is up 4.8 per cent from the same quarter last year. This includes 5,790 households threatened with homelessness due to service of a Section 21 notice to end an Assured Shorthold Tenancy – an increase of 10.9 per cent from the same quarter last year.