"Tens of thousands of homeowners in arrears still face repossession and eviction, and over 3,000 children and their families remain in homelessness emergency accommodation," he said.
But rather than making substantial or systematic attempts to provide solutions to homelessness through accommodation and employment support, local and national authorities have opted to add enforcement measures to austerity policies.
The cycle of homelessness and temporary accommodation was part of the norm, probably more so than now.
It merely dropped out of press coverage for a while and came back with a bang recently by way of government's introduction of the new Homelessness (Suitability of accommodation) Order, which came into force last week.
On 17 October 2012, any notions of a safety net were finally blown away by the announcement that in November the "homelessness suitability of accommodation (England) order" will come into force.
It places a duty on local authorities to help eligible people at risk of homelessness to secure accommodation 56 days before they are threatened with homelessness, and to provide those who find themselves homeless with support for a further period of 56 days to help to secure accommodation.
"In terms of trying to find suitable accommodation for homelessness, we have the perfect storm," East said.
Following a review that recommended radical legislative changes, the Housing Waless) Act 2014, which came into force last year, places local authorities under a legal duty to help prevent homelessness and help find accommodation for everyone who seeks assistance.
"With 68,000 people currently living in temporary accommodation, annual homelessness spending of at least £330m and more than a million more on council waiting lists, it is clear that only an increase of all types of housing – including those for affordable or social rent – will solve our housing crisis," said councillor Peter Box, LGA housing spokesman.
In Kensington and Chelsea, local residents and the council have warned a public inquiry that backing plans to redevelop the Sutton estate, near the King's Road, would give housing associations across the country carte blanche to not update social housing and replace it with private homes, which risks pushing thousands of tenants into temporary accommodation or homelessness.
