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6h ago

Crisis Report Finds Nearly 300,000 in Acute Homelessness as Charity Moves to Buy Homes

The findings sharpen calls to lift Local Housing Allowance, with councils confronting soaring temporary accommodation costs.

Sleeping rough on the street is considered one of the worst forms of homelessness, alongside living in unsuitable temporary accommodation,a tent or a squat. Image: Jon Tyson / Unsplash
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Overview

  • The Crisis–Heriot-Watt study estimates 299,100 households in England faced the most severe homelessness in 2024, up 21% since 2022 and 45% since 2012.
  • Rough sleeping rose by about 20% in two years to more than 15,000 people, highlighting a worsening picture on the streets.
  • Researchers cite rising private rents, declining social lettings and welfare gaps, alongside sharp increases linked to asylum accommodation evictions (+37%) and discharges from hospitals and prisons (+22%).
  • Councils report surging demand for help, with spending of £732m on the most unsuitable emergency accommodation and an estimated £2.7bn on temporary housing in 2024/25; London accounts for 56% of placements, is seven times more reliant on temporary housing than the rest of England, and has seen homelessness rise 35% since 2020 as daily costs reach £5.5m.
  • Crisis will acquire at least 1,000 homes to house high-needs people, starting in London and Newcastle, while the government points to more than £1bn for homelessness services, a £39bn affordable housing program and a cross-government strategy due this winter.