Homelessness in the capital up by 10% as London housing crisis continues

Figures released by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) show that 5 per cent more households in England were accepted as homeless between April 1 and June 30 2015 than during the same period in 2014.

The publication shows the capital is bearing the brunt of the country's housing crisis with an increase of 10 per cent since last year, accounting for just under a third of the total number of households accepted homeless in England in the three month period.

Almost 100,000 children were shown to be living in temporary accommodation having been accepted as "statutorily homeless".

Charities branded the new figures "totally unacceptable" and demanded decisive action from politicians.

Jon Sparkes, chief executive of homeless charity Crisis, said: "We cannot ignore the reality behind these numbers.

"Thousands of people across the country are struggling to keep a roof over their heads in a housing market that is no longer fit for purpose, while cuts to housing benefit and homelessness services have left the safety net in tatters."

Of those accepted as homeless, the new figures show that the number of households living in temporary accommodation on June 30 2015 was up 12 per cent in London and 13 per cent in the rest of England from the same day in 2014.

The vast majority of these contained children and/or a pregnant woman, with 99,080 children or expected children with an average age of two found to be living in temporary accommodation.

These families were disproportionately found in London, with 74 per cent of the country's total households in temporary accommodation living in the capital.

Mr Sparkes warned there was a danger of homeless individuals being overlooked.

"While it's right these people get help, single homeless people and childless couples who approach their councils are often turned away to sleep on the streets - cold, desperate and forgotten," he said.