Homelessness and B&B living keep on rising

The government has revealed that the number of homeless and people living in temporary accommodation is continuing to rise. On the same day the figures were announced, housing minister Lord Rooker pledged £25m to help families out of bed and breakfast accommodation.

There was a 3.5% increase in the number of statutory homeless households in priority need at the end of March 2002: 118,360 compared with last year's 114,350. The number of households living in temporary accommodation was up 8% to 81,260 from 75,120.

A quarter of homeless households said the breakdown of a relationship was the reason they lost their homes. Seven out of 10 of those cases involved domestic violence.

Louise Casey, head of the homelessness directorate, said: "The continuing worry is the number of people fleeing violence in relationships. This confirms the need for our new approach to tackling homelessness – one that concentrates as much on people's problems as providing homes."

A third of homeless people became so when they were unable to continue living with friends or family. A further quarter had lost short-term tenancies.

The number of children being brought up in bed and breakfast accommodation now tops 11,000.

The £25m was shared between 44 local authorities and should help 7000 families move on from temporary accommodation. London boroughs netted the highest allocations with £2.4m to Westminster, £2m to Brent, £1.9m to Newham and £1.7m to Kensington and Chelsea. Outside the capital, Brighton and Hove received the largest amount of funding with £575,000, followed by Restormel with £139,553.

Ben Jackson, director of homelessness charity Shelter, said: "The shortage of affordable housing is a serious problem. With almost 80,000 households living in temporary accommodation, the government's forthcoming spending review must set out a sustained programme of investment in affordable housing."