Housing benefit freeze drives record child homelessness

published on 16 Oct 2025

As new Government homelessness figures show a record number of children in England are without a secure home The Salvation Army is urging Ministers to end the freeze on housing benefit to help families out of poverty.

  • On 25th June 2025, 172,420 children were living in temporary accommodation, up 8% in a year.
  • In April -June 2025, 78,630 households in England had to turn to their local council for help because they had nowhere to live or were at risk of losing their home. This is a 6% decrease on the same time the previous year.

Director of The Salvation Army’s homeless services, Nick Redmore, said: “The freeze on housing benefit is driving families deeper into poverty and homelessness with harmful consequences for their children. The rising demand and cost of providing them with temporary accommodation is also pushing local authorities to the brink financially.

“The coming months present a critical opportunity for Government action. Ending the housing benefit freeze in the Autumn Budget and finally publishing the long-promised homelessness strategy could, at last, bring about meaningful change.

“Yes, the nation is under financial pressure, but every child deserves a safe and stable home and this should not be their burden to carry. Each day the Government delays changing conflicting policies that adversely affect homelessness is another day children and their families suffer for being in poverty.”

The Salvation Army is calling for the following measures to tackle homelessness:

  • End the freeze on the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) so it at least covers the cost of the cheapest third of private rental properties in the area.
  • Urgently publish a homelessness strategy that sets out a clear and achievable plan to address this crisis.
  • Invest in more housing stock, especially social housing, to meet the needs of the growing numbers of people experiencing homelessness.
  • Ensure benefits like Universal Credit cover the cost of essentials.
  • Remove the five-week wait for Universal Credit.