Homelessness charity Crisis has called on the government to unfreeze housing benefit in next month’s Budget after the number of children growing up in temporary accommodation in England reached a new record high.

According to new quarterly figures, 172,420 children were living in temporary accommodation at the end of June this year. This is an 8.2% rise on the same period last year (159,310) and marks the 10^th consecutive new record level.

The new statistics from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government also show that at the end of June 2025:

• There are now 132,410 households living in temporary accommodation in England – another record high. Every quarter since March 2023 has been a new record high
• The number of households in the most unsuitable forms of emergency accommodation – including B&Bs, hostels and other nightly paid placements – has increased by 13.1% to 70,010
• The regions that have seen the biggest increases in children growing up in temporary accommodation are Yorkshire and the Humber (23.9% increase on the same time last year) and the North West (14.0%). The regions that have seen the biggest increases in households in temporary accommodation are the North West (12.6%) and the West Midlands (8.6%).

In response to the figures, Crisis is urging the Westminster Government to use the forthcoming Budget on 26 November to unfreeze housing benefit so it covers the cheapest third of local rents. According to the charity, in many cases current housing benefit rates do not cover rising rents or leave families and individuals little money to cover food costs and other bills. This is forcing thousands into, and keeping thousands in, homelessness.

This year the government committed £39bn to a new generation of social and affordable homes, which would help deliver 180,000 new social homes for rent over 10 years. It has not, however, yet published a cross-department strategy to tackle all forms of homelessness originally promised in its 2024 election manifesto.

Matt Downie, chief executive of Crisis, said: “Tragically we have now become totally accustomed to seeing record levels of children growing up in temporary accommodation. We are talking about children with no space to play, no place to do homework, no safe, stable place to call home. So, we have to ask, as living costs increase and the supply of social homes recedes, when this will end.

“The truth is that only the government can stop this with an ambitious homelessness strategy. It’s essential this helps councils coordinate efforts and plan longer term.

“At the forthcoming Budget ministers have a choice to unfreeze housing benefit, which would enable more people and families to stay in their homes. And they can, through urgently kickstarting a new generation of social homes, help families and children escape poverty and see a brighter future for themselves and their communities.”