Homelessness levels in Wiltshire 'worst than it's ever been'
92 families remain without permanent housing - down from 182 in April 2023
It's claimed the level of homelessness in Wiltshire - and the rest of England - is 'worse than it has ever been'
Figures by the Government back in October showed more than 320,000 households have been living in temporary accommodation over the past year.
But new data has revealed the number Wiltshire families living in temporary accommodation is falling - with the figure slashed by almost a hundred in 18 months.
Wiltshire Council has told us that in April 2023, 182 households in temporary accommodation, but this has now fallen to 92 in November 2024.
And that's down further from a report released by the Council in October, which state 124 families were in temporary homes at the end of September.
Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Phil Alford, told Greatest Hits Radio that they're striving to prevent homelessness, but where it can't be, that suitable accommodation is secured quickly.
He said: “Last year, Cabinet agreed major investment to provide up to 250 homes to meet long term need in Wiltshire and address a wide range of housing needs for Wiltshire residents, including reducing reliance on temporary accommodation.”
The council has stopped using Bed & Breakfast's as temporary accommodation, but they are also up against a trend of landlords selling properties to get out of the rental market.
Cllr Alford said he does worry that will cause a spike in homelessness.
"It's really challenging for landlords and of course as they're withdrawn from the market that's driving up the number of people who are struggling," he said, adding: "We're investing heavily in more affordable accommodation, we're developing homes as a local authority as well as acquiring them, and we're spending a lot more on temporary accommodation."
Families who end up in temporary housing are prioritised for new homes and are supported through the process of finding somewhere appropriate to live.
"We will have officers working with them to find them suitable and sustainable accommodation, we can potentially help them with deposit if they go into the private sector and then we also have tenancy sustainment officers which will work with them to maximise their income," Cllr Alford said.