The number of women living in temporary accommodation in London is double that of men, figures show.
A snapshot analysis of government figures by London Councils revealed 42,000 people living in temporary accommodation in the English capital identified as female compared to 21,700 adult males.
Meanwhile, almost 40 per cent of homeless households put up in B&Bs, hostels and other short-term accommodation in the capital are single mothers alongside more than 86,000 children in the 32 boroughs.
“The specific challenges around women’s homelessness are too often overlooked. We’re hugely concerned by the number of women becoming homeless and requiring temporary accommodation in the capital,” said Cllr Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ executive member for housing and planning, of the analysis which was released on International Women’s Day.
“London continues to suffer the highest homelessness rates in the country – especially in terms of the hidden homelessness identified through temporary accommodation figures. More must be done to understand the particularly severe impact on female Londoners and to help them avoid homelessness.”
Councillors are calling for more welfare support to help low-income Londoners to help them meet housing costs, particularly with the looming cost of living crisis.