55% of families trapped in temporary accommodation are working

New research released by Shelter’s social housing commission shows 55% of families trapped in temporary accommodation are working. That’s equivalent to more than 33,000 families. This has increased by 73% since 2013.

This story comes as the government is set to release a green paper on social housing next week.

The trend in ‘working homelessness’ is being driven by a combination of expensive private rents, the on-going freeze on housing benefit and a chronic lack of social homes. That’s why Shelter has launched a commission into social housing and how it might ease the housing crisis, with bold new recommendations that will be presented to party leaders later in the year.

Shelter states:

Fifty-five per cent of homeless families trapped in temporary accommodation are actually working, according to new research released by Shelter’s social housing commission.

Based on freedom of information requests, the exclusive analysis shows that more than 33,000 families are holding down a job despite having nowhere stable to live. This has increased by 73% since 2013 when it was 19,000 families.

This trend in ‘working homelessness’ is being driven by a combination of expensive private rents, the on-going freeze on housing benefit and a chronic lack of social homes.

High housing costs are a major area of concern for many working families, particularly those in low-paid, part-time or contract jobs. In fact, losing a tenancy is now the single biggest cause of homelessness in the country – accounting for 27% of all households accepted as homeless in the last year.

With hundreds of thousands of working families struggling to keep a roof over their heads, the charity’s commission – the Big Conversation – will make bold recommendations on the role social housing needs to play in easing the housing crisis.

Polly Neate, CEO of Shelter, said: “It’s disgraceful that even when families are working every hour they can, they’re still forced to live through the grim reality of homelessness.

“In many cases, these are parents who work all day or night before returning to a cramped hostel or B&B where their whole family is forced to share a room. A room with no space for normal family life like cooking, playing or doing homework.”

“We cannot allow struggling families to slip through the cracks created by our housing crisis – the government must urgently come up with a new plan for social housing that delivers the genuinely affordable homes we desperately need. Our commission on the future of social housing will be calling for bold solutions, because more of the same is simply not good enough”

Case Study: Mary Smith, 47, lives in temporary accommodation in Watford with her three sons. They became homeless after being evicted by their landlord. Mary works full time in a shoe shop, but still can’t afford to rent privately.

Mary said: “I was brought up by a very proud Irish woman, and taught that you don’t discuss things like your finances – so letting my colleagues at work know what’s happening is very hard. Luckily, I have an understanding manager now, but I nearly lost my job when I first became homeless because the transport links from my hostel were so bad.

“We’ve lived in three different temporary places in two years, and it’s been really tough on the children. Sometimes, I even think that I don’t want to wake up in the morning, but I do. I get on with it because I have other people relying on me.

“I’m not hopeful for our future. I think it’s going to be this constant, vicious circle of moving from temporary place to temporary place, when all my family want is to settle down. We don’t want a palace, we just want a place that we can call home.”

Source of information Shelter.

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

A third of UK homes for sale are ‘chain-free’ reports Zoopla

Recent tax changes and incoming council tax premiums for second homes have unsettled property investors and second homeowners with some now looking to sell One week on from the Autumn budget, buyer enquiries for homes that are chain-free are 33 per cent higher compared to those not advertised as chain-free 41 per cent of two…
Read More
Love or Hate Rightmove
Breaking News

Rightmove’s weekly mortgage tracker 06/11/24

The average 5-year fixed mortgage rate is now 4.66%, down from 5.33% a year ago The average 2-year fixed mortgage rate is now 4.92%, down from 5.76% a year ago The average 85% LTV 5-year fixed mortgage rate is now 4.69%, down from 5.40% a year ago The average 60% LTV 5-year fixed mortgage rate is now 4.05%, down from 4.91% a year ago The average monthly mortgage payment on a…
Read More
Overseas Property

Top reasons to consider buying a luxury villa in Phuket Thailand

Those who have worked hard for many years are often looking for ways to invest their cash so that they can enjoy life to the max in their advancing years. Some might decide to dabble in the stock market or insurance policies to enhance their savings, while others might look to purchase something more physical…
Read More
How to add value to your home
Estate Agent Talk

5 Top Tips for Running a Business From Home

Have you ever wanted to start and run your own business from home? Although it’s an incredibly rewarding experience, it can be tough to set up and know where to start, especially if you have no business experience or background! Whether you want to run a small business, or have grand ambitions for eventual expansion,…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

The Importance of Time Management for Real Estate Investors

Time is one of the most valuable assets for real estate investors, especially when juggling multiple projects, clients, and market trends. Without a strong grip on time management, getting bogged down in tasks that don’t drive growth is easy. You see, every minute spent on admin tasks or low-value activities is a minute that could…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Transforming Your Condo into a Next-Gen Smart Home Experience

Gone are the days when we must get up to press a button on the TV to adjust the volume, use actual keys to unlock doorknobs, or turn a knob to control the air conditioning unit's thermostat. These days, all we have to do is sit pretty on our couches, let technology do its work,…
Read More