Homelessness is on the rise in Stevenage, a new council document has shown.

Across England, the number of homeless families has increased by seven per cent in a year. This rise was reflected in Stevenage, with 252 families presenting to the council as homeless in 2023/24 compared to 177 in 2022/23.

The figures were presented to members of Stevenage Borough Council's Cabinet yesterday (Wednesday, July 24) as they considered a draft Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy 2025-30, which will be open for public consultation next month.

The council's homelessness Action Plan for 2019-24 has led to an increased number of units available for emergency and temporary accommodation, and a Housing First programme which has helped 25 people move into permanent housing since its launch in 2021.

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Those moves have helped reduce the amount of money spent by the council on bed and breakfast and hotel accommodation - from a high of almost £1.1 million in 2021/22 down to around £5,800 in 2023/24.

However, the figures do not include housing benefit not recoverable by the council, and Cllr Jackie Hollywell told the Cabinet meeting that an average of five households per week are still forced to use hotels or bed and breakfasts as temporary accommodation.

Cllr Hollywell said: "I think we would all agree this is totally unacceptable.

"But we also know that we don't have the housing and the provision for them, as well as issues such as no fault evictions and a number of other issues, which I really hope our new government will be tackling."

A document presented to councillors said that the "main reasons" for homelessness in Stevenage are: "Overwhelmingly relationship breakdown, friends and family no longer able to accommodate, and the loss of Assured Shorthold Tenancies, which are tenancies usually provided in the private rented sector."

Stevenage Borough Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee will consider the Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy at a meeting on Tuesday, July 30.