The number of households in temporary housing has reached a new high in Brighton and Hove.
The previous five-year high was set in November and December last year, with 2,170 households in temporary housing – but the figure has gone up every month so far this year.
At the end of June, there were 2,292 households living in temporary housing.
In the first six months of the year, nearly 50 households a week were assessed by Brighton and Hove City Council as qualifying as homeless and in need of housing.
The biggest increase was recorded in March, with 192. Of those, 77 households needed a home because a private rented tenancy had ended.
And 43 needed somewhere to live because family and friends were no longer willing to accommodate, and 15 requiring a home due to domestic abuse.
The need for housing because of domestic abuse reached its highest point in June, with 32 households in need.
Temporary housing is one of the big pressures on the budget, the council said, with a report last month forecasting a £1.3 million overspend on the £14.6 million budget.
The pressure comes not just from the increasing numbers needing help but from the high cost of temporary housing combined with a continued reliance on nightly booked emergency housing.
The council is aiming, though, to reduce the number of households in nightly booked housing from 444 to 181 by next March.
Councillors and officials want to reduce the cost of paying private landlords for temporary housing and the council has been awarded £16.4 million from the government’s Local Authority Housing Fund to buy homes to use as temporary housing.
Labour councillor Gill Williams, the council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “This council is committed to supporting people to access safe, secure and affordable homes.
“Unfortunately, we do see high demand for our homelessness support services locally, including temporary accommodation.
“We continue to take significant steps to reduce demand for temporary accommodation, including increasing the number of affordable and council-owned rental homes across the city and working to improve the stability of private rental properties in Brighton and Hove.
“Our Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025 to 2030 focuses firmly on the prevention of homelessness and rough sleeping and makes specific provision for supporting children, families and young people.
“That strategy shows our shift towards early intervention and to providing support before homelessness occurs.
“There is no quick fix to what is an incredibly complex issue but we are determined to do all we can to support people into secure, affordable and quality housing and are providing investment to match that commitment.
“If residents are concerned about their housing situation, then please contact us as soon as possible so that we can do all we can to keep them in their home and avoid the need for temporary accommodation.”
