Infographic: Price of UK’s escalating housing crisis

An investigation into the UK’s housing crisis has revealed that the taxpayer has spent almost £2bn housing vulnerable homeless families in short-term temporary accommodation in the past four years.

The study looks at how councils are struggling to cope with increasing numbers of homeless as rising rents and benefit cuts leave the poor unable to afford their homes. At the same time a shortage of affordable housing is forcing local authorities, particularly in London, to place an increasing number of households into bed and breakfast accommodation, hostels and shelters. Many of these are desperately vulnerable families.

The sheer numbers of people turning to over-stretched councils for housing is forcing many authorities to turn to the suburbs in search of cheaper short-term housing solutions.  

Related story: Scale of UK housing crisis revealed

Our info-graphic shows the true scale and impact of Britain’s housing crisis.