B&B Payments Double As Homeless Crisis Worsens

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council has defended its policy of placing homeless families in bed and breakfast accommodation, despite the latest figures revealing the cost of doing so has nearly doubled in a year. The authority said the economic climate coupled with a rise in more "complicated cases" meant more people needed to be placed in temporary accommodation while their housing claims were dealt with. The comments were made after council figures showed payments to B&Bs had increased from 49 at a cost of £47,128.19 between April and July last year to 88 costing £89,857.50 in the same period this year – an average of more than £1,000 a family. Read more on the Surrey Mirror website.

Councils putting teenagers at risk by failing to assess housing needs

Local authorities across England are failing to properly house 16 and 17-year-olds, a new report has claimed. Charity Homeless Link's study - 'No Excuses' - reveals 161 English councils were collectively approached an estimated 14,000 times in 2012/13 by 16 and 17-year-olds who needed help with housing. And, contrary to statutory guidance, of those provided with accommodation, 8% were housed in B&Bs and 9% in shared accommodation with adults. According to the report, many councils also appear not to be meeting their legal obligations towards teenagers. The 2009 House of Lords Southwark ruling obliges council children’s services to assess the needs of homeless 16 and 17-year-olds to ensure they get accommodation and support if they need it.

Homelessness in England Reaches Five-Year High

Government figures show that the number of homeless households in England has risen by 6% over the past year, to the highest in five years. The figures also show a 14% rise in the number of people living in B&Bs. B&B-style accommodation often means a single room for an entire family with no cooking facilities and a shared bathroom, sometimes miles away from their jobs and support networks. Though there is a legal requirement limiting this to six weeks for families, many have to stay in this situation for weeks, or even months. Shelter is also worried that today’s figures mask a further group of ‘hidden homeless’; families who have lost their home but may not be counted in official statistics due to recent changes in the way councils handle homelessness applications  Read more on the Shelter website.

Council Facing Legal Action over B&B Families

Westminster Council is facing expensive legal action for keeping families in B&Bs beyond the statutory minimum six-week limit.  Average monthly rents in London have reached £1,100.  Alarmingly, rents are now rising so fast in London that charities are seeing people who found new homes after being evicted in the first round of benefit cuts being made homeless again as costs soar.  Karen Buck, Labour MP for Westminster North, said: "We are now seeing the costs and consequences of the government's salami-slicing approach to housing benefit as homelessness rises and millions are being spent keeping families in hotels and bed and breakfast. Not only are there massive costs associated with homelessness, but the lives of children and families are being damaged and disrupted, with a particular impact on children's education."  Read more on the Observer website.