Record number of homeless children housed by council

The rise in Trafford reflects a spike in child homelessness across England

A record number of homeless children are being temporarily housed in an area where private rents are "some of the highest in the UK", a council has said.

The latest official figures show 234 children in Trafford were living in temporary council accommodation at the end of March, the highest level since records began in 2004.

The figure has soared by 47%, with statistics showing there were159 children living in B&Bs, hostels and other temporary housing in March 2023.

A spokesman for Trafford Council said high private rents and the cost of living crisis had led to a "sharp rise".

Rent 'disparity'

The increased numbers in Trafford reflect a general trend across England, where the latest official figures show a record high of more than 150,000 children housed in temporary accommodation.

The issue has been described by the government as a "national scandal".

In Trafford alone, there are now around 42 homeless children living in temporary accommodation for every 10,000 children under the age of 18 in the borough, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Finding private sector accommodation remains difficult because there is a "large disparity" between rents charged by private landlords and the rates for local authority housing, the council spokesman said.

The council has employed a leader in the private sector to help find more temporary homes, with the aim of reducing the number of families staying in emergency accommodation such as B&Bs and hostels.

“We are continuing to do all we can to help families back into permanent accommodation and prevent more families being made homeless," said a spokesperson for Trafford Council.

Efforts to increase the number of homes built over the long-term are also under way, to make sure "families can access quality accommodation at a rate they can afford", the spokesman added.