At the end of Last year (2015-16) over 50% of homeless families were placed in Bed and Breakfast accommodation. Despite a near doubling of homeless households since then; the number of households in B&B has dropped from 53% to 10.54%

The Council has made good progress because it has taken on other forms of temporary accommodation. But it wants to do even more and has set itself 4 challenges:

1. To reduce the use of B&B to the smallest level possible.

2. To increase the supply of temporary accommodation as close to Milton Keynes as possible.

3. To improve the movement of families from temporary accommodation to permanent housing.

4. To persuade the Government to remove the Cap on investment in new local homes.

Cllr Nigel Long said, “I remain deeply unhappy that there are 56 households in B&B as we head towards Christmas. Our aim is to end the use of B&B except in exceptional circumstances. We have made progress, but it is 56 too many!”

Of the 531 households in temporary accommodation 83 were in Unity house in Luton.

Cllr Long added, “The Council will shortly take over 13 flats and a three bedroom house in Wellingborough. This will further help reduce B&B but again it is not ideal. We want to secure temporary accommodation in MK or preferably reduce homelessness and see households able to access affordable secure housing.“

Council Leader Pete Marland concluded, “Of course we are pleased that the number of families in B&B has reduced. But we will still have over 1000 children in temporary accommodation over Christmas. That is heart breaking and the only real answer is for the Government to let us build hundreds of new homes. We could start building tomorrow if they removed the cap that stops us investing in new Council housing.“