London's homeless families soar by 37% in 5 years

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 16th May 2005

New figures revealed today by the London Assembly Liberal Democrats show that the number of homeless households in the capital has rocketed by more than 37% in the last five years.

Official figures, revealed in Mayoral answers to Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson, Dee Doocey, show the number of recorded homeless families has risen by over 18,000, from 48,867 in December 2000 to 66,977 in December 2004, an increase of 37.1%.

Boroughs with the highest increase of homeless households:-

· Havering with a 450% increase

· Bexley with 140% increase

· Barking with a 135% increase

· Bromley with 113% increase

· Waltham Forest with a 113% increase

Only five out of 33 London Boroughs recorded a reduction in homelessness numbers.

Dee Doocey said:-

"It is scandalous that that number of homeless families has swollen by 18,000 in just five years. Having permanent and decent shelter is the most basic of human rights.

"Even these figures are only the tip of the homelessness iceberg. They ignore single adults or the so-called 'hidden homeless' who have no certainty about where they will sleep."

"The huge increase in homelessness leads to long term social problems including poor health and loss of education. If we can put a man on the moon then why are ministers unable to bring the 100,000 empty homes in London back into use for those who need them most?

"Ministers must not lose sight of the fact that being homelessness is more than being roofless. The number of people in temporary accommodation has risen to intolerable levels and it is now time that the government addressed this trend with as much vigour as it tackled the rough sleeper problem."