Crisis of homelessness intensity revealed in recent research findings

Crisis of homelessness intensity revealed in recent research findings

In a statement, John Greaves, the chief impact officer at Places for People, has highlighted the growing homelessness crisis in the UK and the urgent need to build more social homes. The UK is currently experiencing a significant increase in homelessness, with over 131,000 households living in temporary accommodation in England alone as of March 2025, including 169,050 children. This represents a 12% rise in a year and the ninth consecutive record high [1][3][4].

Rough sleeping in London has also surged, with a 26% rise in people living on the streets between April and June 2025 compared to the previous year [2][5]. In response, there are strong calls for the government to increase the supply of social and affordable homes.

The government has introduced the Social and Affordable Homes Programme aimed at ramping up social rent home delivery. However, charities like Shelter and Crisis urge more urgent action, including unfreezing local housing allowance to help families move out of temporary accommodation and prevent homelessness [1][3][4].

Government targets announced by Labour include building 1.5 million homes with a priority on social rent properties to address the housing crisis [5]. A cross-government unit led by Housing Secretary Angela Rayner is tasked with tackling homelessness, and a long-term homelessness strategy is expected to be published in 2025 [5].

Meanwhile, devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales have declared housing emergencies and are focusing on expanding social housing supply to mitigate homelessness [5]. Places for People, which manages over 245,000 homes in the UK, including 74,000 social homes, is urging the next government to prioritize social housing targets.

Greaves has proposed giving Homes England greater flexibility over funding to deliver on more challenging sites and has offered to work closely with Homes England and a local authority on a specific site to trial this model. A new study published by Places for People shows that 21% of people living in the UK fear they or someone they know will become homeless within the next 12 months [6].

The worry about homelessness is greater among renters (30%) compared to those who own their own home (15%) [6]. In England, 3,898 people were counted as sleeping rough on a single night in Autumn 2023. In Wales, 121 were counted, and in Scotland, 2,438 households reported rough sleeping during the previous three months [7].

The need for more social homes has not been addressed by the Government in recent years, according to Places for People. Greaves suggests deepening collaboration with partners and working closely together as part of public-interest-led development groups to plan and deliver quality homes. The call from Places for People follows their survey that revealed 21% of people in the UK fear they or someone they know will become homeless within the next 12 months [6].

As of now, the number of households living in temporary accommodation in the UK is at its highest ever level: 112,660 in England, 15,625 in Scotland, and 5,700 in Wales. The number of households waiting for a social home in England, Scotland, and Wales stands at 1.29 million, 110,900, and 90,000 respectively [8]. Places for People urges the next Government to listen to the concerns of the people of the UK and prioritize the delivery of more social homes.

References: 1. Homelessness in England: Autumn 2024 2. Rough sleeping in London: Autumn 2024 3. Homelessness statistics in England: April 2024 to March 2025 4. Homelessness statistics in England: 2024 to 2025 5. Homelessness: Government action plan 6. Homelessness fears rise as costs soar 7. Rough sleeping statistics in England, Scotland, and Wales 8. Social housing waiting lists in England, Scotland, and Wales

1. John Greaves, chief impact officer at Places for People, emphasizes the need for more social homes in response to the growing homelessness crisis in the UK.
2. Places for People, which manages over 245,000 homes in the UK, including 74,000 social homes, is urging the next government to prioritize social housing targets.
3. The need for more social homes has not been properly addressed by the Government in recent years, according to Places for People, and they suggest deepening collaboration with partners to plan and deliver quality homes.
4. A new study published by Places for People shows that 21% of people living in the UK fear they or someone they know will become homeless within the next 12 months, highlighting the importance of workplace-wellness, health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, mental-health, and potentially the use of CBD products in mitigating such fears and promoting community cohesion.

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