MORE than 180 families had to be homed in bed and breakfast accommodation last year as a temporary housing measure.

BCP Council spent £3.6million on providing the housing in B&Bs as it continues to face issues with housing stock.

Figures obtained by the Daily Echo through a Freedom of Information Act request show that 184 families were provided with temporary accommodation in a B&B in 2021.

This was up from 151 the previous year, although still lower than the 295 in 2019 in the council’s first year in existence.

BCP Council confirmed the longest period of time any family spent in a B&B since its formation was 59 days.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, a national charity campaigning to end homelessness and bad housing, said: “Temporary accommodation, as the name suggests, is completely unsuitable for permanent living, and can have a detrimental impact on people’s lives.

"We regularly work with families crammed into one room where children have no space to play and do their homework, and parents have no space to cook a meal or hang out laundry.

"An unsustainable mix of soaring rents, benefit cuts and a dire shortage of social housing, means that families are forced to spend far longer than acceptable in overcrowded B&Bs and hostels."

Ms Neate said there was a desperate need to address lengthy stays in temporary accommodation.

The council figures showed that a total of £3,645,107 was spent on temporary housing in B&Bs across the conurbation last year. This was up from £3,480,951 the previous year.

The local authority said “much of this money” was recovered from housing benefit, client contributions and other government grants.

A BCP Council spokesperson told the Daily Echo: "Temporary accommodation and particularly bed and breakfast is never appropriate for any family who become homeless, however the council always ensure that when accommodation is needed in an emergency it’s of a high standard, provides dedicated support from one of our specialist housing resettlement officers and the family is provided with housing options to move-on as quickly as possible.

“The council has a number of dedicated homes within Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole which are provided to enable families to have somewhere safe to stay when homeless and is looking forward to providing additional homes at the Herbert Avenue and Princess Road sites which will enable emergency bed and breakfast use to reduce if not end indefinitely. It is the council’s vision for family homelessness to be prevented in the first place and has a number of services available to support families if they feel they may be threatened with the loss of their home.

“If you are concerned about losing your home and need support, contact the Early Prevention Service on 01202 123456 or email earlyprevention@bcpcouncil.gov.uk."

The council’s delayed homes scheme for Herbert Avenue, Poole, will see 24 homes flats built, with a completion date targeted for March next year.

In Princess Road, Westbourne, work is due to start soon on building four blocks totalling 121 flats and a hostel.