RISING homelessness is a “direct result” of “cruel” Tory policies, campaign group Priced Out claimed today.

The warning was made following the release of government figures showing that the number of households living in temporary accommodation in England is at its highest level in more than a decade — yet again.

A total of 84,740 households were in bed and breakfasts, hostels and other temporary accommodation at the end of March 2019, including 126,020 children, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said.

It is the highest number of households in temporary accommodation since mid-2007, with the latest statistics showing a 76.5 per cent rise since 48,010 at the end of 2010.

Priced Out director Reuben Young told the Star: “The huge increase in households in temporary accommodation is a direct result of cruel government policies that mean housing benefit no longer covers the rent for families that need it.

“The benefit cap needs to be scrapped and the amount of housing benefit private tenants can claim needs to reflect the high rents landlords can charge.

“And of course we need to build more social housing so fewer households are at the mercy of the broken private rented sector in the first place.”

London continues to have a disproportionately high number of households in temporary accommodation, with 66 per cent of the total for the whole of England, according to the figures.

North-east England was revealed to have the fewest households at 330, while there were 960 in Yorkshire and the Humber.

Shadow housing secretary John Healey said: “Homelessness fell with Labour, but under the Tories it has spiralled out of control, with over 126,000 children now without a home.



“This is a direct result of the Tories slashing investment for affordable homes, cutting back housing benefit, reducing funding for homelessness services and denying protection to private renters.”

Rising homelessness “shames this Conservative government,” the Labour MP said.

He vowed that the next Labour government will end rough sleeping and tackle the root causes of rising homelessness through more affordable homes and stronger rights for renters.