Number of families in temporary accommodation more than doubled in a decade

11.08.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 25th Apr 2008

New figures unearthed by local Liberal Democrats have exposed Labour's failure to tackle the housing crisis hitting families in Haringey in the last decade. Since 1997, when Labour came to power nationally, the number of households living in temporary accommodation has soared from 2322 to 5447 - the second highest number in London and four times the London average.

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey and Wood Green comments:

"This extraordinary increase in the number of people living in temporary accommodation, often in terrible and run down states, is one of Labours biggest failings. Not only is Haringey failing to find decent housing for these often vulnerable people, but my casework post bag offers evidence of the terrible state of many of these temporary homes. The council needs to own up to this failing, and address this as a matter of urgency."

Cllr Carolyn Baker, Lib Dem Housing Spokesperson, adds:

"These figures are a shameful testament to current Labour governance. This means that 5447 families are without a proper home in Haringey. Residents have continually had to bear the brunt of an ineffective local Council, unable and seemingly unwilling to tackle this housing crisis, and a national government hell bent on strangling council housing. It shows Labour's complete failure to deal with housing needs."

Notes:

Source: Department fro Communities and Local Government Homelessness returns (quarterly) http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/publicationshomelessness/

Haringey Council's latest figure showing those in temporary accommodation shown here