THE number of children living in temporary accommodation has risen by 80 per cent since the Conservatives came to power, government data revealed today.

There are now 124,490 children living in temporary accommodation, according Labour’s analysis of statistics from the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The sum of homeless households in temporary accommodation has increased by 74 per cent since 2010 and the number of families with children unlawfully kept in bed and breakfast-style accommodation for over six weeks has risen by 440 per cent, the figures show.

Labour’s shadow housing minister Alex Cunningham said the “shameful rise” will “be the legacy of this failed Conservative government.”

He added: “Rising homelessness is a crisis of the Tories’ own making as we’ve seen investment in the number of low-cost homes to buy and rent tumble.

“Add to that cuts in housing benefit, reduced funding for homelessness services and a private rental sector lacking any real protections and we know why so many are being let down.”
 
Labour has promised to end rough sleeping and tackle “the root causes” of homelessness.

Shelter chief executive Polly Neate said in response to the statistics: “More people are being pushed to the hard edge of the housing crisis by crippling private rents, frozen benefits and endless waiting lists for social homes that don’t exist.

“It’s clear this is a national emergency that won’t go away on its own — real change must happen now.”

Ms Neate also said that homelessness cannot be reduced without building affordable homes and that an increase in housing benefit was needed to cover the basic cost of private rent in the meantime.

The government department was approached for comment.