- Homeless: 309,550 in 2023
- Shelter predicts 14% rise
- Housing crisis blamed
The charity estimates that 309,550 individuals were homeless in some capacity on any particular night in 2023.
Shelter expects homelessness in England to increase by 14% this Christmas compared to last year.
The charity has attributed the figures to an allegedly unmanageable housing crisis.
An estimated 309,550 individuals were homeless on any given night in 2023; the majority of this population resided in temporary housing.
This represents an increase from the 271,421 estimated in the company’s annual report for 2022.
“Homelessness is not on anyone’s Christmas list, but 309,000 individuals will spend this season in a cramped hostel room or freezing in a doorway,” said chief executive Polly Neate.
“At this point, the housing crisis is out of hand.” Due to persistent underinvestment in social housing, individuals are unable to afford the exorbitant private rents and have fallen into homelessness in record numbers.
“The government’s approval of the overcrowding of thousands of families into filthy and moist hostel rooms and bed and breakfasts, which are causing severe illness and trauma among the children, is appalling.
Until the government recognizes the gravity of this crisis, our frontline services will make every effort to assist individuals in securing or maintaining a secure dwelling throughout the upcoming winter season.
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Homelessness in England
Shelter stated that official government statistics, data collected by Homeless Link (a national membership charity for organizations working directly with people experiencing homelessness) on individuals residing in hostels or supported accommodation, and responses from certain local authorities to Freedom of Information requests were utilized to compile the most recent figures.
The charity characterized its study as a momentary depiction of the count of individuals documented as homeless on any given night in 2023, with the majority of the data about the initial half of the year.
According to Shelter, the analysis is the “most exhaustive summary of documented homelessness in England.”
However, it cautioned that the actual number might be more significant due to “hidden homelessness” practices like sofa-surfing.
A spokesperson for the Department of Housing and Communities and Levelling Up stated, “Everyone deserves a secure residence. We are allocating £2 billion towards addressing homelessness and casual sleeping, with an additional £1 billion designated for councils to provide financial assistance to individuals needing relocation from temporary housing and securing permanent residences.
Ensuring that no family has a roof over their heads is a critical function of temporary housing. However, councils must verify that such accommodation is both suitable and quick. Families have the right to appeal if the conditions fail to meet their household requirements.
A homeless shelter has issued a public appeal for donations to support individuals experiencing homelessness during the upcoming winter season.
