Emma Reynolds MP, Labour’s Shadow Housing Minister, responding to the Homelessness Monitor report by Crisis and Joseph Rowntree Foundation which shows homelessness has risen for three consecutive years, said:

“The UK is the seventh richest country in the world, yet under David Cameron’s leadership we are facing a cost-of-living crisis and homelessness has risen every year, with some families finding it increasingly difficult to put a roof over their head.

“David Cameron has broken his promises to tackle homelessness and get Britain Building. Homelessness has risen every year under this Government, the number of families with children living in bed and breakfasts is at a 10 year high and housebuilding is at its lowest in peacetime since the 1920s.

“Labour will tackle the housing crisis by increasing the number of new homes built to at least 200,000 a year by 2020 and we’ll scrap the cruel bedroom tax which is driving so many families into rent arrears and puts them at risk of homelessness.”