News

The government launched a £125m drive to tackle homelessness last week as latest figures reveal a 23 per cent increase in the number of households in bed and breakfast accommodation.

In More Than a Roof the homelessness directorate, part of the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pledges to stop English councils putting homeless families with children in B&Bs by March 2004 - except in an emergency.

According to the latest homelessness statistics, during the last three months of 2001, 78,620 households were living in temporary accommodation, and of these 12,110 were in B&Bs.

More Than a Roof details the directorate's five key objectives: to increase help to people who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness; to develop more strategic approaches to tackling homelessness; to encourage new responses to tackling homelessness; to sustain the two-thirds reduction in numbers of rough sleepers; and to ensure opportunity of a decent home for all.

Launching the strategy, DTLR secretary of state Stephen Byers said: "The damage caused to those children [in B&Bs] may live with them into adult life. Living in a cramped room without anywhere to do their homework or play does not give them the start in life they deserve."

He added that the homelessness directorate will investigate the underlying causes and trends of homelessness and test innovative approaches to reducing and preventing the problem. The directorate is due to present him with a progress report in the autumn.

Byers added that guidance had been issued to housing authorities to help children living in B&Bs gain fair access to health checks.

Chris Holmes, director of homelessness charity Shelter, said they welcomed the government's commitment to end the use of B&B and hoped the strategy would be followed by a "firm commitment" from chancellor Gordon Brown in the forthcoming comprehensive spending review.

Centrepoint chief executive Anthony Lawton said: "It is vital that all young people and young adults affected by homelessness are made a priority theme throughout [the strategy]."

- More than a Roof: A Report into Tackling Homelessness, from 0870 1226 236; Statutory Homelessness: England Fourth Quarter 2001, available from www.dtlr.gov.uk