Huge fall in number of Doncaster residents living in bed and breakfast accommodation

Figures published by St Leger Homes show between July and September 2018, housing and council bosses had people staying 1,166 nights in temporary accommodation. This included 81 households and 50 children.

But new data shows just five households including four children spent 11 nights in bed and breakfast (B&B) residences during October to December 2019.

The 2019/2020 financial year is on course to dramatically reduce the use of residents staying in B&Bs on the previous year.

With one quarter left of the 2019/2020 year, there has been 119 nights in B&Bs down from 2,237 in 2018/2019.

Nigel Feirn, head of finance and business assurance at St. Leger Homes, described the use of B&Bs as a ‘last resort’.

He said: “Increasing preventions and interventions together with the additional resources from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government grants to assist with accessing the private rented sector provides an alternative to a placement in temporary accommodation as well as an opportunity to move on more quickly from it.

“For B&B, it is pleasing to report that the Q3 activity above all took place in November, with no placements being made by Housing Options during October and December, for the first time since reporting began in October 2017.

"To reduce the use of B&B, we have increased the use of general needs stock for temporary accommodation.”