Homelessness in London up 22%

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities

Figures published today show a 22 percent rise in the number of households becoming homelessness in London between October and December 2012, compared to the same period in the previous year.

The number of people being put up by local authorities in B&Bs has also risen, up to 2,270 in December, according to new statistics from the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Private rented tenancies coming to an end is now the main cause of homelessness in the capital, increasing to 1,200 cases from 740 the previous year.

London Assembly Green Party Member Darren Johnson said: “The Mayor has failed to recognise that private rented housing is simply too expensive and insecure in London. The tragic consequence is that more people are unable to keep a stable home and are ending up living in sheds, sleeping on friends’ sofas or stuck in B&Bs.

“The Mayor’s aims of halving the number of people who are homeless and of ending rough sleeping are distant dreams if things continue in this direction. Nothing less than a radical change to private rented housing will do.”