From tony at cultureshop.org.uk Sun Mar 1 02:17:19 2026 From: tony at cultureshop.org.uk (Tony Gosling) Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2026 02:17:19 +0000 Subject: [Diggers350] Joseph Rowntree F responds to record number of rough sleepers and families living in temporary accommodation Message-ID: <6.2.3.4.1.20260301021615.08d08eb8@pop.gn.apc.org> >Reply-To: "Naomi Southwell (JRF)" > > > >JRF responds to record number of rough sleepers >and families living in temporary accommodation > > > > >26 February 2026 > >For immediate release > * > New > data shows that in autumn 2025 134,760 > households including 175,990 children were > living in temporary accommodation, the highest numbers on record. > * This includes 2,880 households with > children living in living in bed and breakfast > hotels, with more than half of these households > with children (1,670) living in bed and > breakfast hotels for more than 6 weeks. > * > New > statistics also estimate there were 4,793 > people sleeping rough on a single night in > autumn 2025, the highest number on record. When > Labour left Government in 2010 there were an > estimated 1,768 people sleeping rough in England. > * Families are trapped paying unaffordable > private rents, a leading cause of homelessness. > The average private rent in the UK is £1,370 - > a third higher than their pre-pandemic level. > >Joseph Elliott, Lead Analyst at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, says: > >“When we fail to make sure we all have a >decent home that we can afford, we’re failing >in our most basic responsibility to protect >people’s dignity. It’s appalling that the >number of children growing up in temporary >accommodation and the number of people sleeping >rough have reached record highs. > >“Homelessness and rough sleeping aren’t >inevitable, but they will continue if private >renters remain trapped paying unaffordable rents >and we fail to build enough social homes. >Exorbitant rents keep families mired in >financial instability and uncertainty, with the >threat of homelessness hanging over their heads. >Every family deserves a decent, affordable home. >No one should have to face the fear of losing >their home and the profound impact it has on >their wellbeing, safety, relationships, and ability to work. > >“The Renters Rights Act gives private renters >vital protection against no fault evictions. But >we need the government to tackle the problem of >unaffordable private rents head on if we’re to >see the number of families facing homelessness fall.” > >Notes to Editor > * At the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, we work > to speed up and support the transition to a > future free from poverty, in which people and planet can flourish. > * Contact us at > pressoffice at jrf.org.uk or call 01904 615 958 > * Follow us on > X, > Bluesky > or > LinkedIn > > > >Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), The Homestead, >York, YO30 6WP, United Kingdom >[] >