Councils in England face a £332 million shortfall in funding to tackle youth homelessness, the charity Centrepoint has claimed.
Its research estimates that, across the UK, almost 136,000 young people asked for help from their local council in 2022/2023 because they were homeless or at risk of homelessness.
The research is based on the results of freedom of information requests to councils in England.
Cllr Darren Rodwell, the LGA’s Housing Spokesperson, said: “Councils have consistently raised significant concerns about the impact the rising cost of living, multiple asylum and resettlement programmes, and an insufficient supply of affordable housing are having on driving increases in homelessness.
“Currently, councils are spending £1.74 billion on supporting households living in temporary accommodation, with this spend predicted to increase by a further 19.9 per cent in 2023/24.”