Nowcostof homeless in B&Bs is up fivefold at £142m

COUNCILS ARE spending five times more on housing homeless people in B&Bs than they were a decade ago, official figures show.

More and more homeless people are being placed in bed and breakfast accommodation due to a shortage of suitable housing, the Local Government Association said.

Councils spent £142 million housing families and homeless individuals in B&Bs in 2019-20, according to data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

This is up from £26.7m in 2010/11.

Provisional Government figures also show that there were 10,510 households in B&Bs in the last three months of 2020 – more than four times the number a decade ago at 2,310.

The Local Government Association said the figures underlined the “desperate need” for more social housing.

It is calling for councils to be given further powers and resources to build 100,000 social homes for rent each year.

Councillor David Renard, the association’s housing spokesman, said: “Sadly, these figures reflect the scale of the housing challenges our country faces.

“Councils will only use bed and breakfasts as a last resort but the severe lack of suitable housing means they now have no choice.

“This is hugely disruptive to families with children and the rising demand for support has come with soaring costs for councils.

“Throughout the pandemic the Government has trusted councils to get on with protecting the nation, supporting people and putting infrastructures in place to help with recovery.

“We want to continue this momentum and work with the Government to tackle the shortage of housing and build the homes the country desperately needs.”