Council spent more towards homeless accommodation

Portsmouth City Council spending towards temporary homeless accommodation increased significantly last year, new figures show.

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Figures from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government show Portsmouth City Council recorded about £19.1 million in net spendingwhich is the difference between the total outgoings and income - towards temporary accommodation for the year to March.

It was a 72 per cent increase from the £11.1 million net spending in 2023-24, not adjusted for inflation.

Across England, council spending towards temporary accommodation reached £1.4 billion in the year to March-up from £1.1 billion the year before.

Mairi MacRae, director of campaigns and policy at Shelter, said: "While the housing emergency is draining billions in public funds, families across the country are paying the ultimate price.