The number of people living in temporary accommodation in England has reached a 25-year high, with almost 105,000 households and over 131,000 children recorded in such situations on

31 March this year, according to official data from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities. This figure represents a 10% increase compared to the same day last year.

One family living in a hotel in Plymouth, which includes a mother and her two children, shared their experiences of cramped living conditions. The lack of affordable housing and the freezing of local housing allowance rates for the past three years have been cited as contributing factors to the homelessness crisis.

The figures also revealed a 33.3% increase in homelessness among older people, highlighting the urgency of addressing the housing crisis. Advocacy groups, including Shelter, are calling on the government to enact the Renters (Reform) Bill to ban no-fault evictions as a measure to combat rising homelessness.

Government officials have stated that they have allocated £2 billion over three years to assist local authorities in addressing homelessness and rough sleeping, with a focus on areas with the most need. The government also plans to invest £11.5 billion to build 300,000 new homes annually to meet the country's affordable housing demand. However, critics argue that more comprehensive actions are needed to tackle the issue of homelessness and ensure secure and affordable housing for all. Photo by Simon Walker / No10 Downing Street, Wikimedia commons.