The UK housing shortage is nothing short of appalling in the opinion of many and no situation is more tragic than that occurring in London currently.  Not just hundreds, but thousands of families are awaiting the chance to get out of hostels or bed and breakfast situations and move into permanent housing.  The opportunity to find affordable housing in the Capital City has been a challenge for years and it is only getting worse.

According to data released by councils, more than 4,000 homeless families in London have been waiting patiently to move into a permanent home.  Many of the 4,000 have been waiting for two years at the minimum.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, commented on the situation of London as it currently stands, saying: “It’s appalling that in one of the wealthiest cities in the world, there are forgotten homeless children, hidden from view in temporary accommodation that offers them no stability and can be unsafe and in poor condition. And sadly, with more people struggling to make ends meet, we’re bracing ourselves for an increase in demand from families who desperately need our help.”

Shadow communities minister Lyn Brown also commented on the current crisis, saying: “Labour will tackle the housing crisis by getting 200,000 homes a year built by 2020, legislating for stable long-term tenancies for private renters so families can have peace of mind, and we’ll scrap the cruel bedroom tax which puts families at risk of homelessness.”

The disparity between the haves and have nots is reaching epic levels in regard to homeless numbers.  The housing situation can only improve with time and focusing on the availability of more affordable housing.