Rise in number of homeless families

At the end of 2012, 76,790 children were living in temporary accommodation

The Government figures out today mean that a family becomes homeless every 15 minutes, according to housing charity Shelter.

In 2012, just over 34,000 households with children were accepted as homeless, a jump of 12 per cent on the previous year. At the end of 2012, 76,790 children were living in temporary accommodation, an annual rise of 11 per cent.

The figures also show an increase in the number of families living in B&Bs, up 29 per cent since the same time last year.

"This is yet more proof of how families across the country are being pushed to breaking point," said Shelter’s Chief Executive Campbell Robb. "The crippling cost of housing, combined with rising prices, flatlining wages and cuts to housing support, is meaning many families are simply no longer able to hold on to the roof over their heads.
 
"We are extremely worried that people already feeling the squeeze because of the recession and benefit reductions will increasingly struggle as further cuts to the housing safety net come in this April."