More women than men in London’s temporary accommodation

Analysis by London Councils reveals almost double the number of homeless women than men are in temporary accommodation arranged by a borough in the capital.

Government figures indicate that 42,000 occupants of temporary accommodation in London are female adults compared to 21,700 male adults – meaning 65 per cent of adult occupants are women. According to the data, 39 per cent of homeless households in temporary accommodation in the capital are headed by single mothers.

London Councils, which represents all 32 boroughs and the City of London Corporation, says the findings show both the shocking scale of the capital’s family homelessness crisis and the particularly severe impact on women.

Highlighting that women are more likely to experience ‘hidden homelessness’, the cross-party group believes more research and policy focus is needed on supporting women without a permanent home and preventing them from becoming homeless in the first place. London Councils is also calling for more welfare support to help low-income Londoners meet their housing costs and a strengthening of boroughs’ ability to build new council housing.

Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ Executive Member for Housing & Planning, said: “The specific challenges around women’s homelessness are too often overlooked. We’re hugely concerned by the number of women becoming homeless and requiring temporary accommodation in the capital. London continues to suffer the highest homelessness rates in the country – especially in terms of the hidden homelessness identified through temporary accommodation figures. More must be done to understand the particularly severe impact on female Londoners and to help them avoid homelessness.”