Latest Homeless Statistics From The House Of Commons.

Next Stage Housing Provides Insight To The Numbers…

Almost 6000 households with children were being housed in a B&B as of June 2024 – of which 4000 had been there for longer than the statutory 6-week limit.

Cath worked with a family affected. N, her husband and 2 children found themselves homeless after private rent became unaffordable. They were continually offered a B&B solution miles away. N’s husband works locally and doesn’t drive so getting to work would have been impossible, as would getting the older child to school. They also had a newborn baby. A B&B offers no facilities to wash clothes or cook a meal. Imagine living in a hotel room with a newborn baby! having to survive on take-away meals which aren’t particularly healthy and certainly aren’t cheap. Six weeks would be a long time but for this to continue beyond that would be increasingly difficult and for some people it is just not realistic.

This is just one account of one family in this situation.

The committee’s conclusion to this situation found it unacceptable that B&Bs are being used to routinely house people rather than a last resort.

Please pray with us for the wisdom of those making new homeless policies.