Record Number of Southend Families in Temporary Accommodation Reaches 414

Figures from a Freedom of Information request show that in November 2025, 414 households in Southend were placed in temporary accommodation. Nightly costs for this accommodation range from £52.50 for a single room to £100 for larger family units. This number is double the figure recorded in 2023, and Southend Council anticipates it will rise to around 447 households by the end of the financial year.

The increase reflects a national trend, with England reporting 131,140 households in temporary accommodation by March 2025, a 12 percent rise from the previous year. In Southend, the numbers have surged from 219 households in 2023 to 319 by mid-2024, and nearly 400 by mid-2025.

Additionally, Southend has over 1,600 people on its social housing waiting list, but only 382 homes became available last year, many of which were age-restricted. Olivia Westberg, head of housing policy and operations at Southend Council, noted that the main causes of homelessness include evictions from private rentals, domestic violence, and family breakdowns. She stated, “Unfortunately, all of these conditions have caused the massive upsurge that all councils are seeing.”

The financial burden has been significant, with the council’s costs for temporary accommodation rising to £2.5 million in 2024/25, double that of the previous year. In response, a new Housing Delivery Board is being established to manage a five-year investment plan. This plan includes £10.5 million for home acquisitions, £85 million for new builds, and £4.5 million for modular temporary housing.

Anne Jones, a councillor for planning and housing, expressed that the increasing number of households in temporary accommodation is “a serious concern.” She highlighted the broader pressures on housing nationally, such as a shortage of affordable homes and rising private rents. Jones added, “We are working hard to address this by accelerating delivery of new council homes, strengthening partnerships with housing providers, and supporting residents to prevent homelessness wherever possible.”

She also mentioned a bold £100 million, five-year investment plan recently approved by the cabinet, along with the creation of a Housing Delivery Board to enhance decision-making and increase housing supply. “These measures aim to reduce reliance on costly temporary accommodation and provide more settled housing for local families. However, this is a complex challenge that requires sustained investment and government support to make a real difference,” she said.