The number of households in temporary accommodation in England has hit a record high of 105,750 - with the picture also worsening in London.
Government stats published on Thursday showed the total number of children in temporary accommodation in England has also reached a record high, rising to 138,930 at the end of June. More than 82,000 of those are in the capital.
The data shows that 60,580 households in London were living in temporary accommodation, with 45,170 households in temporary accommodation in the rest of England.
This is worse than the same period last year, June 2022, where there were 56,340 temporary accommodation households in the capital.
The new record of more than 82,000 children living in temporary accommodation in London is nearly 6,000 higher than last year’s figure of 74,470 at the end of June.
Newham had the highest rate of temporary accommodation in London for June 2023, with 50.2 households per 1,000 households, followed by Redbridge (27.19), Southwark, (25.94), Hackney (24.62), and Kensington & Chelsea (24.38).
Out of borough placements, where homeless families are placed in temporary accommodation outside their local area, was also particularly prevalent in London. Nearly 80 per cent of out of district placements were from London councils.
Campaigners have warned this often leaves homeless families stranded from support networks, schools and work, but London boroughs point to the fact that availability of homes is better outside of the capital.
Housing charity Shelter said the figure for children in temporary accommodation is "yet another shameful record in the housing emergency".
Shelter chief executive Polly Neate said: "Today we've hit yet another shameful record in the housing emergency, with nearly 139,000 children now facing spending Christmas without a safe and secure place to call home."
She blamed "decades of failure to build enough social homes combined with record-high private rents" and said many are facing "months or even years in temporary accommodation, where their lives are stuffed into cardboard boxes and they can be forced to move at the drop of a hat".
The number of households with children living in bed and breakfasts has almost doubled compared with the same time last year, soaring from 2,320 at the end of June 2022, to 4,480 at the end of June this year.
Of all the households in temporary accommodation, 14,090 were living in B&Bs, up by more than a third (37.6%) from the same time last year, the department said.
Of those in B&B accommodation, 9,610 (68.2%) were single households, up 21.3% from the same time last year.
By law, B&Bs are only meant to be used for families in an emergency, and for no longer than six weeks.
But the latest figures show that, of the households with children in B&Bs, 2,510 had been living there for more than six weeks, up from 1,020 at the same time last year.
The stats also show that 6,640 households were threatened with homelessness due to a Section 21 notice - also known as a no-fault eviction notice.
This was up by 10.3% from the same quarter last year.
The Government has promised to ban Section 21 notices through the Renters Reform Bill, which is currently going through Parliament, but has faced criticism for not giving a firm timeframe for when these will be scrapped.
Tom Darling, campaign manager for the Renters' Reform Coalition, described the latest statistics as “stark" and said they are “yet another reminder of the urgency of abolishing Section 21 evictions - which are a key driver of homelessness, as well as a source of constant insecurity for millions of tenants.”
A government spokesperson said: "Everyone deserves a safe place to call home, that's why we are spending £2 billion over three years as part of a cross-government strategy to build homes for rough sleepers, give financial support for people to find a new home, and prevent evictions.
“We know building more homes is also a part of the solution and we are doing so as part of our long term plan for housing. This also includes our multi-billion pound programme to build thousands of new affordable homes, with a large number for social rent.
“Our landmark Renters Reform Bill will also give tenants greater security in their home, and last week we increased the Local Housing Allowance so 1.6m low-income households will be around £800 a year better off on average next year.”
