Shelter reveals more than 300,000 people in Britain homeless today

The number of people recorded as homeless has reached a staggering 307,000 – more than the entire population of Newcastle – a shocking new report by Shelter reveals today.

 

In the most extensive review of its kind, the housing charity combined official rough-sleeping, temporary accommodation and social services figures. This showed the number of homeless people in Britain has increased by 13,000 in a year. However, as government records are not definitive the true figure of homelessness is likely to be even higher.

 

Shelter has launched an urgent appeal in response to this mounting crisis, calling on the public to support its frontline advisers as they work tirelessly to help people to stay in their home or find a new one.

 

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “It’s shocking to think that today, more than 300,000 people in Britain are waking up homeless. Some will have spent the night shivering on a cold pavement, others crammed into a dingy, hostel room with their children. And what is worse, many are simply unaccounted for.

 

“On a daily basis, we speak to hundreds of people and families who are desperately trying to escape the devastating trap of homelessness. A trap that is tightening thanks to decades of failure to build enough affordable homes and the impact of welfare cuts.

 

“As this crisis continues to unfold, the work of our frontline services remains absolutely critical. We will do all we can to make sure no-one is left to fight homelessness on their own. But we cannot achieve this alone; we urgently need the public’s support to be there for everyone who needs us right now.”

 

The charity’s report, ‘Far from alone: Homelessness in Britain in 2017’ also shows just how hard it can be to escape homelessness amid a drought of affordable homes and welfare reforms, such as the freeze on housing benefit and recent roll-out of Universal Credit.

 

In England, where more people are affected, over a third of those living in temporary accommodation will still be homeless in a year’s time.
One in every 200 people in England is currently homeless. However, to identify where the epidemic is most acute, the charity mapped the top 50 hotspots with the highest levels of homelessness in the country.

 

Newham topped the list where 1 in every 25 people are homeless. This was closely followed by Haringey (1 in 29), Westminster (1 in 31), and Enfield (1 in 33). But it is not just in the capital where the picture is alarmingly bleak. Areas such as Luton, where 1 in 52 people are homeless, Birmingham (1 in 88) and Manchester (1 in 154) also feature in the top 50.

 

Case study: Victoria, 72, from London, is living in temporary accommodation after being made homeless because her landlord decided to sell her privately rented home, and she couldn’t find anywhere else to go.

 

Victoria said: “After getting my eviction notice I desperately tried to find another place to rent but to no avail. I found landlords either didn’t want to let to someone on housing benefit, even though I’ve always paid my rent, or the properties were simply too expensive for me.

 

“Presenting myself as homeless was in itself humiliating and scary. You’re left sitting around for hours, waiting to find out if you’ll have a place to stay that night. I’m in temporary accommodation now. I spend every day dealing with letting agents, searching for a place to rent, or just some way out of here. If I get the chance to visit a friend’s house it’s so hard to come back to this place afterwards, and leave behind the warm environment a of a real home.

 

“The whole thing makes me feel like there is something wrong with me. I’ve moved around a lot, and yet for the first time in my life I feel like I have no control over my situation. I’m not easily scared, but the fear is terrible – you just don’t know where you are doing to end up. I’m in a constant state of anxiety and stress. I hope that finally with Shelter’s help, I might one day find a safe place to call home again.”

Source of report from 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

Rightmove logo
Breaking News

Rightmove’s weekly mortgage tracker – 30/04/25

Rightmove’s mortgage expert Matt Smith says: “Average rates have continued to slowly come down over the last week, while the cheapest available fixed mortgage rate is a 2-year fixed rate at 3.79% for those with the largest deposits. I think lenders are now biding their time until the 8th May Bank Rate decision, and will…
Read More
sold purplebricks
Breaking News

Latest HMRC UK Property Transactions Report

Headline statistics from the latest transactions data include: The provisional seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of UK residential transactions in March 2025 is 177,370, 104% higher than March 2024 and 62% higher than February 2025 The provisional non-seasonally adjusted estimate of the number of UK residential transactions in March 2025 is 164,650, 89% higher…
Read More
Breaking News

Annual house price growth slows slightly in April

Annual rate of house price growth slowed to 3.4% in April, from 3.9% in March House prices down 0.6% month-on-month   Headlines Apr-25 Mar-25 Monthly Index* 539.3 542.4 Monthly Change* -0.6% 0.0% Annual Change 3.4% 3.9%     Average Price (not seasonally adjusted) £270,752 £271,316 *Seasonally adjusted figure (note that monthly % changes are revised…
Read More
Home and Living

Transforming Rentals: Budget-Friendly Home Improvement Tips for Property Managers

Rental property management requires balancing affordable costs with units that possess both desirability and competitive qualities and comfort. The modern rental market demands upgraded properties that receive proper maintenance because these properties attract tenants quickly and result in higher rental rates. A rental property can get a fresh, appealing look without requiring major financial expenditures.…
Read More
Home and Living

Custom Entertainment Centers and Media Cabinets: Function, Form, and Future

The evolution of how we consume media has dramatically transformed the role of entertainment centers in our homes. What began as simple television stands has evolved into sophisticated, multifunctional pieces that balance technology integration with aesthetic appeal. Custom entertainment centers and media cabinets have emerged as solutions that address both practical considerations and design sensibilities,…
Read More
Letting Agent Talk

Maximizing Rental Income: Home Improvement Projects That Pay Off for Property Managers

Let’s talk cash flow. You’ve got a rental property in San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita, or the always-sunny Westside of LA, prime spots for serious rental income. But if your property still looks like it time-traveled from 1992 (and not in a cool, vintage way), you’re probably losing money as you are. The good news?…
Read More