The campaigning charity Shelter reports that over 354,000 people in England, including 161,500 children will spend Christmas without a home.

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Shelter's figures, which exceed those issued by the government, are derived from a combination of official homelessness statistics and responses to Freedom of Information requests.

The charity claims, one in 160 people in England are now homeless, an increase from one in 182 in 2023. The charity notes that approximately 326,000 individuals are in temporary accommodation, a 17% increase in one year, with most of these being families with children.

Additionally, 3,900 people are sleeping rough every night (a 10% increase), while another 16,600 single individuals are housed in hostels or other homeless shelters.

The charity states: “Record private rents combined with inadequate housing benefit, rising evictions and a lack of genuinely affordable social homes has resulted in homelessness soaring. Families who become homeless are usually placed in temporary accommodation by their local council, but all too often this accommodation is far from ‘temporary’, as the government’s own data shows that almost half (45%) of families have been there for over two years."

The chief executive of Shelter, Polly Neate, says: “As the country prepares to wind down and celebrate the festive season in our homes, it’s unimaginable that 354,000 will spend this winter homeless – many of them forced to shiver on the wet streets or in a mouldy hostel room with their entire family.

“Across England, extortionate private rents combined with a dire lack of genuinely affordable social homes is trapping more and more people in homelessness. Parents are spending sleepless nights worrying about their children growing up in cramped and often damaging temporary accommodation, as weeks and months turn into years without somewhere secure for them to call home.”

Shelter’s research highlights regional disparities, revealing that London fares the worst, with one in 47 people experiencing homelessness. This figure has increased by 12% over the past year, reaching a total of 187,000 people. Newham has the highest rate within London, with one in 18 people sleeping without a permanent residence.

Away from London, Slough reports the highest homelessness rates, with one in every 51 residents experiencing homelessness. This is followed by Luton, where one in 57 people are homeless, and Manchester, with one in 61. The North East has experienced the most significant annual rise in homelessness, increasing by 53%, from 1,500 to 2,300 individuals.

The charity asserts that its analysis is; "the most comprehensive overview of recorded homelessness in England."