Homelessness in England remains at crisis levels despite the government’s new national strategy, prompting renewed calls for urgent action and increased investment in local housing solutions.
At the end of last year, ministers set out a long-awaited plan to tackle homelessness across England. The strategy pledged to prioritise prevention, reduce unsuitable temporary accommodation for families, and halve long-term rough sleeping.
While the approach was welcomed as a step forward, charities and experts warned that real success would depend on whether it leads to a sustained reduction in homelessness figures, which remain historically high.
New official statistics published last week underline the scale of the challenge.
A record 85,500 households with children are now living in temporary accommodation in England, the highest level since records began. In addition, 48,410 adult-only households are currently in temporary accommodation, an increase of 3.5% compared with the previous year.
Rough sleeping has also reached a new peak. Latest figures show 4,793 people were sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2025, the highest number ever recorded. This represents a 171% increase since 2010, when official tracking began, and marks the fourth consecutive year of rising figures.
Charities warn that these statistics only show part of the picture, with many people experiencing homelessness not captured in official data. They stress that behind every number is a person without stable housing, security, or access to basic support.
Organisations working directly with homeless people report growing pressure on an already stretched system.
Frontline services have highlighted major difficulties in accessing suitable accommodation, with many providers struggling to find housing that meets the needs of vulnerable individuals.
Nearly a third of people sleeping rough say they are homeless because they do not know how to access support or accommodation, while a further 20% report that no emergency housing was available locally.
The government’s commitment to building 1.5 million new homes has been welcomed, but experts warn that delivery speed and housing type will be critical.
Charities argue that a significant proportion of new housing must be socially rented if it is to meaningfully reduce homelessness. However, they caution that new housing supply alone will not solve the immediate crisis faced by people without homes today.
The recently introduced Renters’ Rights Act has been described as a positive step, helping to reduce evictions and prevent people from falling into homelessness due to tenancy insecurity.
In response to the ongoing shortage of emergency housing, St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity has expanded its Access to Accommodation Programme, designed to support local organisations delivering practical housing solutions.
The programme was developed after discussions with frontline workers and people with lived experience of homelessness, who highlighted a lack of resources as a major barrier to providing accommodation.
The charity has committed more than £620,000 to support smaller community-based organisations working to create or unlock housing in their local areas.
Projects funded through the scheme include converting derelict buildings in Great Yarmouth and developing modular housing on unused land in Oxford. Each initiative is designed in collaboration with people affected by homelessness and aims to respond directly to local demand.
The programme will run over the next three years, with the goal of not only providing immediate accommodation but also identifying scalable models that could be used more widely across the UK.
Charities argue that grassroots organisations are best placed to respond quickly to local housing needs but often lack consistent funding and support.
With homelessness rising despite national policy efforts, campaigners are urging government, local authorities and private funders to invest more heavily in community-led housing solutions.
The Access to Accommodation Programme is also being expanded to support projects in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
While wider economic pressures and global instability continue to strain public finances, charities say targeted investment in local housing initiatives can deliver immediate, practical results.
They hope successful projects will encourage broader adoption of similar schemes across the UK, helping more people move from homelessness into safe and stable homes.