Over 17,000 homeless people in the East of England
Shelter's new research says that includes over 8,000 children without homes
Over 17,000 people are recorded as homeless in the East of England, including nearly 8,500 children according to new research from homelessness charity Shelter.
Their analysis shows 1 in 368 people in the East of England are recorded as homeless.
On any given night there are 240 people sleeping rough while 16,630 are living in temporary accommodation – most of whom are families.
The figures showed that shockingly over 8,000 of all people recorded as homeless in the East of England are children.
The national picture
Shelter analysed official homelessness figures and responses to a Freedom of Information request which revealed 271,000 people in England are homeless - that's 1 in 208 people.
Of those 271,000 people, nearly 123,000 are children.
The research from the charity also revealed that 2,440 people are sleeping rough and a quarter of a million people are living in temporary accommodation.
Here's the regional breakdown from Shelter:
- North East 1,250
- North West 14,619
- Yorkshire and The Humber 5,079
- East Midlands 5,933
- West Midlands 20,402
- East of England 17,201
- London 150,742
- South East 26,832
- South West 10,432
- 6,832
- South West 10,432
- 32
- 6,832
- South West 10,432
Big rise in those living in temporary accommodation
Across England the number of people living in temporary accommodation has risen by 74% in the last 10 years – something Shelter argues is driven by the chronic shortage of social homes, and an over-reliance on private renting.
More than two-thirds of families (68%) living in temporary accommodation in England have been there for over a year.
Homeless numbers expected to rise in 2023
Shelter is issuing an urgent appeal for public support as it braces for a sharp rise in homelessness in 2023.
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “The new year should be a time of hope, but this isn’t the case for the over 270,000 homeless people in England who are facing a truly bleak 2023. A cold doorway or a grotty hostel room is not a home, but this is reality for too many people today.
“Our frontline advisers are working tirelessly to help people who are desperate to escape homelessness - from the parents doing all they can to provide some shred of a normal family life while stuck in an emergency B&B, to the person terrified of another night sleeping rough.
“With private rents and living costs continuing to soar, thousands of people are not just facing a winter of worry, they are at risk of losing the roof over their head. At Shelter, we are bracing ourselves for a sharp rise in homelessness in 2023. More than ever, we will be relying on the public’s generosity to help us support and campaign for all those fighting for a safe home.”