More than 130,000 households trapped in temporary accommodation in England

• The number of households in the most unsuitable forms of emergency accommodation – including hostels and nightly paid B&Bs – has increased by nearly a quarter (23%)
• Crisis urges the Westminster Government to unfreeze housing benefit so that it covers the cheapest third of rents as they begin to move from ambition to delivery on social housebuilding

The number of households stuck in temporary accommodation in England has once again reached record highs, according to new government figures released today (Tuesday 22^nd July), with 131,140 trapped in temporary accommodation at the end of March this year. This is a 12% rise on last year (117,350). 

The new statistics from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government also show that at the end of March 2025: 

• There are now 169,050 children living in temporary accommodation in England – a record high.  
• The number of households in the most unsuitable forms of emergency accommodation - including nightly paid B&Bs and hostels – has increased by nearly a quarter (23%) to 69,410   
• Between January and March this year, 83,450 households approached their local council for homelessness assistance and were deemed eligible for support. This represented a decrease of 6% on the same quarter last year.  

In last month’s Spending Review, the Westminster Government committed £39bn for the Social and Affordable Homes Programmes. They have since said that at least 60% of the 300,000 homes that will be delivered through this programme must be for social rent. 

In response to today’s temporary accommodation figures, Crisis is urging the Government invest in housing benefit so it covers the cheapest third of rents, so that everyone can afford a safe home as they begin to move from ambition into delivery on social house building.  

Matt Downie, Crisis Chief Executive, said: "While the Westminster Government has made a hugely welcome commitment to build social housing at scale, these figures drive home the need to relieve the pressure on struggling households right now.  

“Years of stop-start investment in housing benefit, coupled with the failure of successive governments to build enough social housing, has left record numbers of families across the country unable to find anywhere affordable to live and stuck in temporary accommodation. Far too often people are forced to live in poor quality, cramped conditions away from their support networks and without facilities to cook their own meals or do their washing. This is causing real harm, trapping families in poverty and limiting life chances.   

“For those families and individuals in unsuitable temporary accommodation today, the promise of a social home in the years to come can only provide small comfort. That’s why it’s crucial the Government takes decisive action and restores housing benefit this autumn so that it covers the true cost of renting. Only then can we give people a fighting chance of moving out of homelessness while these much-needed social homes become a reality.”  

-Ends-

Notes to Editor 

Statutory homelessness in England 

The quarterly statistics for statutory homelessness assessments and activities in England between 1 January and 31 March 2025 are published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) and can be found here.  

These statistics also reports on households in temporary accommodation under the statutory homelessness duty in England on 31 March 2025. 

• There were 69,410 households in unsuitable forms of emergency temporary accommodation (B&Bs, hostels and nightly paid accommodation) on the 31 March 2025.