THE number of those living in temporary accommodation in Ealing is on the rise, according to figures just published.

In 2023/24, 3,013 households were living in temporary accommodation in the borough, according to Personal Injury Claims UK. 

Temporary accommodation (TA) is the term used to describe shelter secured by a housing authority under its statutory homelessness obligations. 

Last year, about 109,000 households in England – including 142,000 children – were in emergency housing between June and September, up 10% on the same period the previous year.

Back in 2021/22, the number of TA households in Ealing stood at 2,295.

A year later, this number had increased to 2,540, with a possible cause being the cost of living forcing people to find other, cheaper places to live.

When authorities run out of immediate space, other types of accommodation,  such as hotels and bed and breakfasts, are used to house people.

Hotels are one the main forms of TA, and across England in the past year 50,546 people lived in hotel accommodation, up 10% from last year. 

Personal Injury Claims UK also obtained the figures on how much temporary accommodation has cost councils in the past three years.

In 2021/22, TA cost Ealing £33.7m before this figure dropped to £33.4 a year later.

In England, councils spent more than £1bn on temporary accommodation last year, and the problem is pushing some towards bankruptcy. 

Personal Injury Claims UK offers free advice and support to those impacted by temporary housing, especially those who suffer an injury.

They operate a 24-hour helpline and claim online form, which you can access on their website.