Crisis responds to figures showing 26% rise in rough sleeping, as almost 100,000 households stuck in temporary accommodation

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has today released two sets of statistics on homelessness in England: the rough sleeping snapshot for autumn 2022, and statutory homelessness data covering July-September 2022.

The first, the Government’s annual rough sleeping statistics for England, found an estimated 3,069 people to be sleeping rough on any given night in Autumn 2022, up by a quarter (26%) on the previous year. This is the first time the government has reported an increase in rough sleeping since 2017.

Also released are new official data on statutory homelessness in England, which shows worrying trends in other forms of homelessness. Temporary accommodation levels continue to grow – shockingly, 99,270 households were staying in temporary accommodation at the end of September 2022. This includes over 125,000 children.

The statutory data also shows that 72,320 households in England were facing homelessness between July-September 2022. Whilst this is a similar level to the previous year, there continues to be a high number of people facing homelessness because of a no-fault eviction notice: 6,170 households, an increase of 34% on the previous year.

Crisis, the national homelessness charity, say the figures represent a dire picture of housing and homelessness in England today. The number of households in temporary accommodation is at its highest level in 18 years.

The charity is calling for urgent investment in housing benefit rates, which have been frozen since 2019 while, last year, rents rose at their fastest rate for 16 years.

Failing to do so, Crisis warns, will force thousands more people into homelessness.

Responding to the figures, Matt Downie, Crisis Chief Executive, said: “These figures confirm the grim reality that the Westminster Government will fail to meet its commitment to end rough sleeping by next year. The fact that homelessness is once again on the rise is frankly shames our society and if alarms bells weren’t ringing across Government they should be now.

“Not only that, with almost 100,000 households stuck in temporary accommodation having been evicted from their homes, we’re on an extremely dangerous course.  And with still no sign of the Renters’ Reform Bill, which would scrap ‘no fault’ evictions, many people are exposed, lacking what should be a basic legal protection.

“The Westminster Government needs to take urgent action if we’re going to avoid levels of homelessness reaching a national-scale crisis. Most importantly, the Chancellor absolutely must commit to investing in housing benefit in the upcoming budget. Failing to do so will consign thousands more people to homelessness.”

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Notes to Editor

Today the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities released two sets of statistics on homelessness in England: the rough sleeping snapshot for autumn 2022, and statutory homelessness data covering July-September 2022.