The number of households in temporary accommodation in England has exceeded 100,000 for the first time in almost 20 years, grim new figures reveal.
Charities said the bleak milestone showed the homelessness system was "on its knees'' while Labour described it as a "moment of shame" for the Tories.
According to Government statistics, there were 101,300 households trapped in temporary accommodation by December 2022 - a number last reached in 2004.
The total figure, which has increased year-on-year since 2011, is a hike of 5.2% from the same date in 2021.
Of the households living in temporary accommodation, 12,220 were in B&Bs - a 31% increase.
The homelessness charity Crisis said this includes a disproportionate number of families, with the number households with dependent children in such accommodation more than doubling, with a rise of staggering 129% in a year.
Over 5,000 were also in hotels while over 26,000 were in nightly paid privately managed accommodation.
The greatest proportion of households living in temporary accommodation - 58,370 - were in London while 6,900 were in the North West and 11,950 in the South East.
Matt Downie, the Chief Executive of Crisis, said: "The homelessness system is on its knees.
"For the first time in nearly 20 years, the number of households living in temporary accommodation in England has exceeded 100,000.
"Shockingly, the number of children living in B&Bs without a secure home has more than doubled in just 12 months."
He added: "Families up and down the country are unable to move on with their lives and have no security because they can’t afford to rent privately and there are far too few social homes to go around.
“Years of inaction and failure has brought us to this point. We’re supporting people trapped in temporary accommodation who are living in one room with their children, often without facilities to cook their own meals or do their washing - causing real damage to their physical and mental health."
Labour’s Shadow Minster for Homelessness, Paula Barker, said the figures were a "moment of shame for this Conservative Government".
She added: "They have presided over the number of households in temporary accommodation doubling since they came to power in 2010.
“The number of households with children in bed and breakfast accommodation longer than the statutory maximum of six weeks is at its highest since autumn 2003.
"The Conservative Government should follow the example set by the last Labour Government in eradicating the instances of children living in bed and breakfast accommodation longer than six weeks.
Lib Dem Housing spokesperson Helen Morgan added: "The shameful failure of the Conservatives to ban no fault evictions is directly responsible for this shocking increase in homelessness.
"The Conservatives first promised to ban the practice when Theresa May was Prime Minister, yet still nothing has been done. "This ban needs to be brought in urgently before more families lose their homes through no fault of their own".
A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokeswoman said: “Over 600,000 households have been prevented from becoming homeless or supported into settled accommodation since 2018 but we know there is more to be done to help families at risk of losing their homes.
“We are giving councils £1 billion through the Homelessness Prevention Grant over three years, to help them prevent and tackle homelessness targeted in areas where it is needed most.
“This is on top of £26 billion cost-of-living support this year – helping those most in need. Local authorities have a duty to ensure no family is without a roof over their head and temporary accommodation plays an important role in this.
“Our forthcoming renters’ reforms will deliver a fairer, more secure, and higher quality private rented sector, reducing the risk of tenants becoming homeless.”
