Homelessness charity Shelter is calling for all political parties to commit to building 90,000 affordable homes to rent every year – with rents that are tied to local incomes.

It says the move will deliver a ‘lasting and ultimate solution to homelessness’.

Shelter is also pushing for the Renters (Reform) Bill amendments to be ditched – including a delay to banning Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions until the court system is improved.

The charity is now joining with other tenant organisations to say it no longer supports the bill.

Living in temporary accommodation
Shelter is speaking out after new government statutory homelessness figures reveal that 145,800 children are homeless and living in temporary accommodation with their families.

This is the highest figure ever recorded, representing a 15% increase in a year.

The data for England also reveals that 112,660 households were homeless and living in temporary accommodation at the end of 2023, another record high, up 12% in a year.

Also, 317,430 households were recognised as either homeless or at imminent risk of it by their council last year, the highest number since records began, and up 9% on the previous year.

‘The government cannot stand idly’
The charity’s chief executive, Polly Neate, said: “The government cannot stand idly by while a generation of children have their lives blighted by homelessness.

“Decades of failure to build enough genuinely affordable homes to rent has left families struggling to cobble together extortionate sums every month to keep a roof over their heads.

“Those who can’t afford private rents are being thrown into homelessness and then left for months and even years in damaging temporary accommodation because there is nowhere else.”

She added: “With a General Election approaching, it’s time for all politicians to show voters they are serious about ending the housing emergency.

“To dramatically reduce homelessness, we need every party to commit to building 90,000 social homes a year for 10 years, and an overhaul of the Renters (Reform) Bill so that it delivers genuine safety and security for private renters.”

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