Homeless Children Increase While Empty Homes Stand Vacant

HOMELESSNESS  - The number of households assessed by Local Authorities as either homeless or threatened with homelessness has increased by 11.4% from April to June 2018 to 68,170 this quarter. This includes 127,370 children were stuck in temporary accommodation between April and June - the most since spring 2006.

According to Shelter, 280,000 people will be homeless in England on Christmas Day – about one in every 200 of the total population. That stands at an increase of 23,000 since 2016. One in 107 children in Great Britain are currently living in temporary accommodation. There are approximately five homeless children for every school in the country. One in 24 children in London are homeless and living in temporary accommodation - that's equivalent to nearly 28 children per school or nursery.

Almost 13,000 homes have stood empty for at least 10 years, Lib Dems reveal

A Liberal Democrat investigation has revealed almost 13,000 homes have been left vacant for over 10 years despite devastating new government statistics which reveal 127,000 children face being homeless at New Year.

Former Liberal Democrat leader, Tim Farron, has declared a "national emergency" and demanded urgent action to alleviate the housing crisis to ensure "every child has the security of a warm home."

The figures collated from over 300 local authorities, uncovered by Liberal Democrat freedom of information requests, also reveal there are a staggering 46,964 homes that have been empty for 5 years or more while there are 313,792 long-term empty homes [defined as over 6-months] across the country.

Some of the worst offending councils include Durham County Council, which has 682 homes that have been empty for over 10 years, with Rother and Manchester totalling 660 and 495 homes respectively.

However, the Liberal Democrat investigation revealed that only 21 councils - fewer than 1 in 10 councils - across the country have made use of Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMO) in the past five years. These are the powers used by local authorities to take over properties that have been empty for at least six months*.

As part of the party’s plan to alleviate the housing crisis, the Liberal Democrats are calling for legislation to allow local authorities to increase council tax by up to 500% where properties are being left vacant long-term. The revenues would then be used to build new homes for the community or to invest in local services.

Image: Homeless children on the increase. 

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