UK Homelessness Crisis Hits Record High

The number of homeless individuals in the UK has reached a record high of 14,429, including over 4,000 children, with many families relying on inadequate emergency accommodations such as hostels and B&Bs. Councils are spending £2.3 billion annually on temporary accommodation, a 97% increase in five years, yet much of this money is criticized as ineffective by housing advocates like Polly Neate from Shelter, who calls for investment in permanent solutions. The Labour government has committed to banning no-fault evictions and aims to build 1.5 million homes over the next five years to address the crisis. Experts highlight that rising rents and increased evictions have exacerbated homelessness, with over 150,000 children currently affected. Charity leaders stress the urgent need for the government to adopt more sustainable solutions and increase funding to councils to alleviate the homelessness crisis. The upcoming budget is anticipated to include plans for a significant increase in social and affordable housing to address the underlying issues.