The Issue
A city in crisis: Brighton’s hidden homeless
In Brighton & Hove, over 1,400 children, and their families, are growing up in temporary housing. Behind each statistic is a childhood disrupted and a future put at risk.
0
+
people are without a permanent home
Almost
0
children and parents are living in temporary accomodation
0
YEARS
That’s how long families have to wait for a council home on average
Homelessness isn’t just about the absence of a roof. It means missed school, worsening health, broken friendships, and children growing up without a sense of belonging.
We can change this, together.
Why it matters
Every parent and child deserves the stability of a permanent home. Without it, families are forced into a cycle of moves across the city – or even out of it – into housing that damages their health, disrupts education, and erodes community ties. For too many children in Brighton & Hove, home is a place of uncertainty, not safety.
These are Brighton’s hidden homeless: overlooked, under-supported, and forced to live in crisis conditions long-term.
What’s causing homelessness in Brighton?
- A severe shortage of social housing
- Rising private rents and cost of living
- Limited council resources and long waiting lists
It takes on average nearly a decade for a family to secure a council home. Meanwhile, children spend their entire school lives in unstable, temporary housing.
Why now?
- Brighton & Hove City Council’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy ends this year, opening a window for new ideas.
- The Council’s house-building targets can be accelerated by using smaller sites.
- National planning reforms create opportunities to get innovative housing models moving.
- Homelessness has risen by 27% in Brighton, with figures now at their highest since records began
This is a pivotal moment. With public support, we can ensure small-site housing becomes part of Brighton’s future, delivering safe homes for families, faster.
Restore belonging for families in Brighton
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