England: Record number of children in temporary accommodation

Homelessness charity Crisis said the statistics show a situation that has become “normalised” despite the scale of human impact.

Data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government covering October–December 2025 shows:

• 176,130 children were living in temporary accommodation at the end of last year — up 6% on the same period in 2024.
• 134,210 households were in temporary accommodation during the quarter.
• An average of more than 800 households a day were found to be facing homelessness.
• Of the households whose cases were closed, only 48% secured accommodation. Of those who did, 54% moved into social housing. In London, that figure fell to just 34%.
• 4,960 households were at risk of homelessness after receiving a Section 21 “no fault” eviction — a 16% decrease on the previous quarter.

The fall in Section 21 cases comes just one day before the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force, abolishing no‑fault evictions and replacing fixed-term tenancies with rolling ones.

Separate data from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN), regarded as the most accurate measure of rough sleeping in the capital, shows:

• 3,944 people were recorded sleeping rough in London between January and March 2026 — 11% fewer than the year before.
• 1,762 people slept rough for the first time, a 15% drop year-on-year.
• Some boroughs saw increases, including Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich and Hackney.
• Hackney recorded a 56% rise compared with the same period in 2025.

Responding to the figures, Crisis chief executive Matt Downie said the statistics reflect what frontline workers are witnessing daily.

“Once again, official statistics have reinforced what we are seeing with our own eyes: more and more families with children stuck in temporary accommodation. This ought to be treated as a national emergency but sadly it has become normalised.”

Downie welcomed the protections introduced by the Renters’ Rights Act but warned that further action is essential.

“To build on this, the Westminster Government must take urgent action to make sure everyone can access a genuinely affordable home.”

He also highlighted the fall in rough sleeping in London as a positive sign, but said the wider system remains under severe strain.

“The single biggest intervention the Westminster Government could do right now to prevent rising homelessness across the board is to unfreeze housing benefit. This will make private rent homes more affordable for people on lower incomes and offer hope for those deeply worried about keeping a roof over their heads.”