Homelessness in England rises by 11% in just three months
Posted 28 Jul 2022
New government figures released today show 74,230 households in England became homeless or were at imminent risk of becoming homeless between January and March 2022 – including 25,610 families with children. This represents an 11% rise in three months, and a 5% rise on the same period last year.
Since March household incomes have been further battered by the cost of living crisis. Shelter is calling for the government to intervene to prevent a steep rise in homelessness as renters struggle with the highest private rents on record alongside rocketing household bills.
The government’s latest homelessness data also revealed:
Despite being in full-time work 10,560 households were found to be homeless or threatened with homelessness. This is the highest number of people in full-time work recorded as homeless since this government started recording this data in 2018.
1 in 4 (25%) households were found to be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless because of the loss of a private tenancy (18,210 households). This has increased by 94% in a year and is the second leading trigger of homelessness in England.
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “Too many people are losing the battle to keep a roof over their heads – struggling to pay rent and put food in their mouths. With homelessness on the rise whoever becomes the next Prime Minister needs to get a grip on this crisis, and fast.
“The housing emergency was already tipping thousands of people into homelessness before the cost of living crisis took hold. Now record-high rents, and crippling food and fuel bills risk sending even more people over the edge – including people who are working every hour they can. Our frontline services hear from families every day who’ve got nothing left to cut back on.
“High housing costs are a major part of the cost of living crisis, but they are being ignored. To pull struggling renters back from the brink of homelessness, the new Prime Minister must unfreeze housing benefit so people can afford their rent. But to end homelessness for good, building decent social homes with rents pegged to local incomes is the only answer.”
Anyone who is facing homelessness can get free and expert advice from Shelter by visiting www.shelter.org.uk/get_help.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
74,230 households approached their local council and were found to be homeless or threatened with homelessness (owed a prevention or relief duty) between January and March 2022. This is 11% (7,600) higher than in October to December 2021 (66,630) and 5% (3,830) higher than in January to March 2021 (70,400). This is available at: DLUHC, Live tables on homelessness, Statutory Homelessness Live Tables, Table A1.
25,610 households with children, approached their local council and were found to be homeless and owed a prevention or relief duty between January and March 2022. This is available at: DLUHC, Live tables on homelessness, Table A5R and A5P.
The total number of households in full time work facing homelessness includes all those where the main applicant was in full time work and found to be owed a prevention or relief duty. This was 10,560 in January to March 2022. These figures are available at DLUHC, Statutory Homelessness Live tables, Table A10.
The total number of households who are facing homelessness as a result of the end of a private tenancy during the pandemic is all households who approached their local authority as a result of the end of an Assured Shorthold Tenancy and were found to be owed a prevention or relief duty. This was 18,210 between January and March 2022, 94% (8,810) higher than in January-March 2021 (9,400). This is available at: DLUHC, Live tables on homelessness, Statutory Homelessness Live Tables, Table A2R and A2P
The total number of households who are facing homelessness as a result of being asked to leave by family and friends was 19,840 from January to March 2022. This is the leading trigger of homelessness. These figures are available at DLUHC, Statutory Homelessness Live tables, Reason for threat of loss of last settled home and reason for loss of last settled home, Tables A2P and A2R.