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London is getting homeless families out of hotels – but the crisis is far from over

Councils in the capital have managed to vastly reduce the number of families in hotels and B&Bs, but is this really a win in the battle against homelessness?

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Matty Edwards and The Lead
Oct 25, 2025
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moon seen on blue and orange sunset sky over the city
“My three-year-old couldn’t sleep, my 19-year-old went off the rails.” Pic: Unsplash

“I still feel traumatised from it to be honest. In my time of need, after working all my life, I felt like I was nothing.”

Jessica*, a single mum from Waltham Forest in north-east London, was made homeless in January after fleeing domestic violence. For seven weeks, she l…

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A guest post by
Matty Edwards
Bristol-based freelance journalist specialising in features and investigations on housing, politics and the environment. Formerly of the Bristol Cable.
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