Homeless crisis affects hundreds of children

NATIONAL ISSUE HAS BIG IMPACT IN PLYMOUTH

- DAVID DUBAS-FISHER & KATIE TIMMS

HUNDREDS of Plymouth children are living in temporary accommodation, according to the latest data.

Figures from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities show there were 388 households without a permanent place to call home at the end of March.

That is up from 311 at the same point last year, and is the equivalent of 3.5 out of every 1,000 households in the city. Some 145 of those households had dependent children, leaving a total of 317 kids without a permanent home. That is up from 220 children last year.

Out of those children without a permanent home, 35 households were living in bed and breakfasts. Eight of those families had been there for over six weeks. That is actually down from 41 households last year, 14 of which had been there for at least six weeks.

Cllr Tudor Evans, Labour leader of Plymouth City Council, said: "The stresses of the cost-of-living crisis combined with rising rents and mortgage rates is making it harder for people to support themselves, their extended families and their friends. It's no wonder that our housing waiting list has gone from 8,000 to 12,500 in the past four years."

Cllr Chris Penberthy, Cabinet member for housing, said: "We're in the middle of a national housing crisis and we're doing our best to combat it. The thing is, we just don't have anywhere near the amount of accommodation we need to deal with the number of people who are coming to us for help.