Explore our new interactive map of homelessness in England

Today, we have published our latest estimate of the total number of people who are homeless in England. These latest figures represent the shocking reality of the housing emergency.

Our analysis gives the most comprehensive picture of individuals who are officially recorded as homeless. It includes thousands of people stuck in insecure temporary accommodation, people sleeping rough on the streets, people in hostels, and children and their families who are homeless and accommodated by social services. Our figures illustrate the failure of successive Westminster governments to make sure that everyone can access a suitable and settled home.

According to our most recent data, there are an estimated 382,618 people who are now homeless in England. This includes at least 175,025 children.

This figure represents an 8% increase (28,602 people) in just a year and means that at least 1 in 153 people in England are homeless. It includes a record-breaking 350,480 people who are homeless in temporary accommodation. Most of these people are families with children, and a disproportionate number are Black-led and Asian-led households.

Our numbers are shocking, but they only tell half the story. This is because our analysis doesn’t count people in certain forms of hidden homelessness, such as those who are sofa surfing or who don't bed down in a place that is known to rough sleeper teams.

Other organisations have published estimates of homelessness that count these types of hidden homelessness. The analysis we are publishing today only includes people who are officially recorded as homeless. This allows us to explore trends right down to a local level, but it also means that our figures will necessarily be an underestimate of the true scale of the problem.

Explore the homelessness figures for your local area

Homelessness affects almost every part of the country. This is why, supported by our corporate partner insurance company esure, we have created a new interactive map of homelessness across England.

Our new map allows you to explore the homelessness figures for your area, including the total number of people who are homeless, the rate of homelessness relative to the population, and the change since last year.

Our interactive map also shows the areas where homelessness is particularly bad. And London stands out as a city where the rates of homelessness are very high. Our analysis found that there are 202,587 people who are homeless in London. This is the equivalent of 1 in 45 people and means that London accounts for over half of the total homeless population across England.  Newham is the worst affected London borough, with 1 in 18 people recorded as homeless, followed by Westminster with 1 in 21 people, and then Lambeth with 1 in 26 people.

Outside of London, the West Midlands has the highest rate of homelessness (1 in 198 people), followed by the South East (1 in 235), and then the East of England  (1 in 267). The local authorities outside London with the highest proportion of homelessness are Slough (where 1 in 43 people are homeless), Hastings (1 in 60 people), and then Birmingham and Manchester (both with 1 in 61 people).

No one should have to experience homelessness. But, as our analysis makes clear, this is now the reality for thousands of people, including families with children trapped in insecure temporary accommodation, individuals in hostels, and those risking their safety by sleeping on the streets.

Building more genuinely affordable social homes is the only lasting solution to homelessness. The chancellor’s £39bn spending review investment in social and affordable homes is a game-changer. But we now need the government to set a substantial target for how many social rent homes will be built during this parliament, and how it will ramp up delivery to 90,000 social rent homes a year for 10 years.

But new homes take time to build, and families and children whose lives are on hold can’t afford to wait any longer. That’s why we must see immediate action. The government must unfreeze the local housing allowance rates and restore them so that they cover at least the cheapest 30% of private rents. This simple step would help people, including thousands of families stuck in damaging temporary accommodation, to access a private rented home until more social homes are available.

No family should face homelessness alone this Christmas. Donate today and you could help a family get the support they need, when they need it most.