Record number of children stuck in B&Bs as England’s homelessness crisis worsens
'6,000 homeless families with children live in B&Bs, due to the lack of alternative accommodation,' says report
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LONDON
A record number of children are being housed in bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) beyond the legal limit as England’s homelessness crisis pushes councils to breaking point, a parliamentary report revealed Friday.
MPs on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have warned of a “dire need” for housing reform, as the chronic shortage of affordable homes forces local authorities to spend vast sums on temporary accommodation instead of homelessness prevention.
The crisis has led to councils prioritizing short-term solutions, including placing families in B&Bs—despite government guidelines stating they should only be used in emergencies and for no longer than six weeks.
Temporary accommodation is intended as a short-term fix for homeless households while they await suitable, long-term housing.
The report raises deep concerns around the number of families being housed outside their local area.
"This has risen to 39,000, a practice which alarmingly seems to be becoming increasingly common. Equally alarming is the fact that 6,000 homeless families with children live in B&Bs, due to the lack of alternative accommodation," it said.
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, Chair of the PAC, described the situation as a “crisis” and criticized the government for failing to address the root causes of homelessness.
“My Committee is deeply concerned by the number of people currently being housed in sub-standard, overpriced and, at times, wholly inappropriate accommodation, sometimes a long way from their previous home,” he said.
“A lack of affordable housing, a focus on short-term solutions and no clear strategy to tackle this issue have left us with thousands of families in deeply troubling circumstances. Worryingly, there seems to be no desire to move away from an unsatisfactory short-term system, leaving local authorities attempting to save a sinking ship with a little more than a leaky bucket.”
The PAC is calling for an overarching government strategy to tackle the systemic issues fueling the homelessness crisis, including the lack of affordable homes and poor coordination between government departments.
“Local authorities find themselves at breaking point as they haemorrhage funds to cover the rising costs of housing families in temporary accommodation,” Geoffrey added.
