Rise in budgets due to priority change

Councils’ bed and breakfast budgets have soared since the
government expanded the category of homeless groups in priority
need of housing in 2002.

Harrogate Council told an MPs’ inquiry into homelessness that its
annual budget rose from £1,000 two years ago to £102,000
this year. Scarborough Council is expecting its annual B&B
budget to hit the £500,000 mark this year, a 100 per cent rise
on 2002 levels.

Domestic violence, being thrown out by parents, short-term leases
and drug and alcohol misuse are the main causes of homelessness.

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