DTLR figures found the number of people in B&Bs rose 23 per cent to 12,110 in the last 12 months.
The total number of people in temporary accommodation has risen to a record 78,620 – 60 per cent of whom are in London.
The news comes as the DTLR’s new Homelessness Directorate pledged to end the practice of using B&Bs for temporary accommodation, except in emergencies, by March 2004.
As predicted by Housing Today, its new head, Louise Casey (pictured with DTLR secretary Stephen Byers), announced the target as part of the remit for the new directorate, which will be backed by £125m from the DTLR (Housing Today, 14 March).
Under new legislation, councils will have an increased role in creating homelessness strategies, with which the directorate will help.
The allocated £125m will be divided into:
> £35m to achieve the B&B target
> £30m to sustain the two thirds reduction in rough sleeping
> £60m for a Hostel Inspectorate and measures to improve education and employment prospects for homeless people.
And the Department for Work and Pensions announced a further £10m linked to changes in housing benefit regulations, aimed to give councils a financial incentive to using alternatives to B&B.
Homelessness charities welcomed the new directorate but warned more was needed for single homeless people and children caught in the poverty trap.
“The plans for tackling single homelessness are less clear,” Crisis chief executive Shaks Ghosh said. “The government has acknowledged there is an army of 400,000 single homeless people in England today and we now need concrete plans to bring this figure down.”
St Mungo’s chief executive Charles Fraser also welcomed the targets, as did Shelter, but he warned that effective strategies and long-term commitment would be needed.
More than a roof: A report into tackling homelessness. Tel: 0870 1226 236.
Source
Housing Today
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