What鈥檚 behind the record homelessness figures?
Councils have a legal duty to house families and vulnerable people if they lose their homes. A shortage of affordable homes means more are moving into temporary accommodation.
Housing charity Shelter鈥檚 latest figures show that homelessness has risen rapidly in the last year. In England, 279,400 people are living in temporary accommodation - an increase of 14% - most of whom are families.
And the government鈥檚 own figures reveal that almost half (47%) of families who are homeless in temporary accommodation have been there for more than two years.
Councils have a legal duty to house families and people who are vulnerable if they lose their homes, but the acute shortage of affordable homes means they are having to rely on temporary accommodation for long periods.
So what can be done to fix the growing numbers who find themselves homeless?
David Aaronovitch is joined by the following expert guests:
Christine Whitehead, Housing Economist, London School of Economics
Rachelle Earwaker, Senior Economist, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Matthew Wilkins, Head of Value for Money, Centre for 91热爆lessness Impact
Production team: Kirsteen Knight, Alex Lewis and Sophie Eastaugh
Production Co-ordinators: Jacqui Johnson and Sophie Hill
Sound: Rod Farquhar
Editor: Richard Vadon
Last on
Broadcasts
- Thu 21 Dec 2023 20:0091热爆 Radio 4
- Fri 22 Dec 2023 11:0091热爆 Radio 4
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The Briefing Room
David Aaronovitch presents in-depth explainers on big issues in the news.