A housing shortfall and Government benefit cuts are ‘fuelling’ rising homelessness as councils warn they are struggling to find affordable tenancies.
Charity Crisis found almost two out of three councils in England were struggling to find social tenancies for homeless people while half find it ‘very difficult’ to assist applicants into privately-rented accommodation.
Nearly 58,000 people were accepted as homeless by their council in 2015/16 – 18,000 higher than 2009/10.
Placements in temporary accommodation have risen sharply, with the national total up by 9% in the year to 30 June 2016, a rise of 52% compared to 2009/10.
Drawing on evidence from 162 of England’s 326 local authorities, the report revealed 85% of responding councils had difficulties assisting single people aged 25 to 34 into accommodation and 88% found it difficult housing large families.
Some 94% of councils said they anticipated greater difficulties in finding accommodation for homeless 25-34 year olds in the next two to three years due to rising unemployment, spiralling rents and declining benefit protection.
Nine out of 10 expressed concerns that the rollout of Universal Credit will further exacerbate homelessness because of the potential impact on landlords’ willingness to let to homeless people.
Local authorities also cited welfare cuts and housing allowances falling well short of rents in many locations as ‘major barriers’ to councils’ attempts to house homeless applicants.
‘The situation for the thousands who find themselves homeless in England is becoming more and more desperate each year,’ said Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Crisis.
‘Until the number of truly affordable rented homes increases significantly, councils will continue to come under huge financial pressure, with dreadful consequences for the most vulnerable in our society.’
Cllr Martin Tett, housing spokesman at the Local Government Association, said: ‘This survey illustrates the challenge facing councils as they try to cope with the nation’s growing homelessness crisis.
‘Faced with increasing demand, funding cuts, falling social housing and wide-ranging welfare reforms, it is increasingly difficult for councils to find emergency care and accommodation for all homeless people, particularly those who are young, vulnerable, or with families.’