Nearly a third of a million households face homelessness
published on 3 Oct 2024
As new figures reveal an 8.9 per cent rise in households in England who are homeless or at risk, The Salvation Army is urging the Government to maintain the value of housing benefit against rising rents to better protect the thousands of families struggling to make ends meet.
The Annual Statutory Homelessness figures* for 2023 to 2024 show that:
- 324,990 households were assessed as homeless or at risk of homelessness in 2023-24. This is up 8.9% from 2022 - 2023.
- Of these, over a third (109,580, or 33.7%) are families with children.
Moreover, new Salvation Army research** also found 46 per cent of people in the UK are worried or extremely worried that an unexpected bill of £200 could mean they struggle to pay mortgage or rent or regular bills.
These are the final set of Government homelessness figures for England before the Autumn Budget at the end of October.
Director of The Salvation Army Homeless Services, Nick Redmore said: “These figures starkly illustrate how families are at the sharp end of the homelessness crisis.
“The Government can help protect families from homelessness by maintaining the value of housing benefit against increasing rents and investing in affordable housing. We want to see an Autumn Budget that addresses family homelessness because every child deserves a home.
“Every day, we see thousands of families without a proper home and struggling to give their children the basics like a space to do school homework, and play, a decent meal and proper school uniform. The Government must take action now.”
In particular The Salvation Army is calling for:
- An end to the two-child benefit limit that is punishing families and pushing them deeper into poverty.
- A reform of Universal Credit to ensure it covers the cost of essentials that families need to survive.
- A raise in the value of all benefits annually in line with inflation to avoid eroding the finances of struggling families.
*Statutory homelessness in England 2023 – 2024
**Research commissioned by The Salvation Army and conducted by nfpResearch, August 2024 | Base: 1001 respondents 16+, UK
