Homelessness rises by 10 per cent in a year

New figures have shown that 15,170 households were accepted as homeless between April and June of 2016, a rise of 3 per cent on the previous quarter and a 10 per cent rise on the same quarter last year. 

The statistics, released by the Department for Communities and Local Government, showed that one in three homeless households are in London, with the ending of a private tenancy the leading cause of homelessness  (41 per cent). Homelessness is now at its highest for a decade. 

Alarmingly, 5,070 households were found to be homeless but not eligible for help - a 10 per cent rise on the same quarter of 2015.

Liz Rutherfoord, SHP Chief Executive, said: "These figures are extremely concerning. Homelessness has reached a ten year high, and it’s clear that London is in the throes of a homeless crisis. While it’s encouraging to see a small increase in the number of households prevented from becoming homeless, local authorities across London need more funding from central Government to have the impact needed to make a serious dent in these numbers. Priority must also be given to building more affordable housing, and specifically, more social housing.”