Milton Keynes Council is under extra pressure as over 100 families have reported to them as homeless in the last two weeks alone.

By Friday 29 July evening there were 470 Milton Keynes households in temporary accommodation. This is up from 349 households on the 18 July (two weeks previously) which is a 35% rise. 180 households are now in Bed and Breakfast accommodation (B&B) compared to 175 two weeks ago, a 3% rise.

Despite the growing housing and homelessness crisis facing Milton Keynes, the Council is pulling out all the stops to minimise the number of families who end up in Bed and Breakfast. Despite the soaring demand, the Council remains committed to reducing the number by 75% by March 2018. This target was set out in the Council Plan recently approved by the whole Council.

Cllr Nigel Long, Cabinet lead on Housing said, “We are providing more temporary accommodation, mostly through our effective partnership working. We are securing a range of such accommodation, some of which will be supported by a specialist care and support partner. But without more investment we will not resolve the cities problems.“

It costs the Council a lot of money for every household that they have to place in temporary accommodation. At a time of stretched budgets this extra cost takes money away from other priorities. The housing and homelessness crisis has its roots in failed Government policies including austerity and controls that stop us investing.

Cllr Long concluded, “We are working really hard to respond to the growing housing and homelessness crisis facing Milton Keynes. We aim to provide alternative temporary accommodation to Bed and Breakfast, but in the longer term we need to deliver more long term affordable housing.“