Homelessness Crisis Deepens in South Hams with Record Numbers of Children in Temporary Accommodation

Strategic Insights -

The South Hams region in England is grappling with a severe homelessness crisis, with new figures showing a sharp increase in the number of children living in temporary accommodation. According to data released by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, there were 18 children living in temporary accommodation in South Hams at the end of March, a significant jump from the four children reported a year earlier.

Across England, the number of children in temporary accommodation hit a record high of 169,050 in March, up from 151,630 a year earlier. Shelter, a leading homelessness charity, warned that thousands of children are facing a "long summer stuck in damaging and insecure" accommodation, and urged the Government to take immediate action to address the crisis.

Key Takeaways:

  • The number of children living in temporary accommodation in South Hams increased by 14 times in the past year, from 4 to 18, as of March.
  • Nationally, the number of children in temporary accommodation reached a record high of 169,050 in March, up from 151,630 a year earlier.
  • Shelter warned that the Government must unfreeze local housing allowance to cover at least 1/3 of local rents and increase social rent home construction to 90,000 per year for 10 years.
  • South Hams District Council assessed 61 households as being threatened with homelessness and owed a prevention duty, up from 33 a year earlier.
  • Nationally, 37,610 households were assessed as being threatened with homelessness, down 4.5% from the same quarter last year.
  • The charity Riverside reported that the number of homeless households moved out of temporary accommodation into social housing increased by almost 1/8 over the past 12 months.

Statistics:

  • 18 children living in temporary accommodation in South Hams as of March.
  • 169,050 children in temporary accommodation nationwide as of March, a record high.
  • 14 times increase in the number of children living in temporary accommodation in South Hams in the past year.
  • 61 households assessed by South Hams District Council as being threatened with homelessness and owed a prevention duty.
  • 37,610 households nationally assessed as being threatened with homelessness.
  • 4.5% decrease in households threatened with homelessness nationwide compared to the same quarter last year.
  • Almost 1/8 increase in households moved out of temporary accommodation into social housing nationwide over the past 12 months.

Sources:

  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)
  • Shelter (housing charity)
  • Riverside (charity providing accommodation for people affected by homelessness)
  • South Hams District Council
  • Dartmouth Today (local news publication)