Families not in hotels for Christmas, says council

No families who were homeless in a borough will be living in hotel or bed-and-breakfast accommodation on Christmas Day, a council said.

Bedford Borough Council said since January 2024 it had acquired 35 new properties to house families as part of its plan to reduce the need for hotels.

Between April and November 316 households were helped, which was a 96% increase compared to 2022, it added.

In December it said only two families stayed in temporary housing for just one night each.

"This is thanks to wider work to tackle the root causes of homelessness in the borough," it said

The authority added it had worked with landlords to make sure there was "sufficient available supply of temporary homes", as well as the 35 new properties that used "capital investment to reduce long-term spending".

Phillippa Martin-Moran-Bryant, a Conservative councillor and portfolio holder for housing and regulatory services, said: "Living out of a hotel room or B&B can be incredibly challenging, especially if you're one family living out of a single room.

"Our work means there has been a steady reduction in hotel use for families, which are now considered a last resort and a focus on sustainable temporary accommodation."

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