There are set to be zero homeless families in Bedford Borough living in hotels or B&B accommodation on Christmas Day.
This is thanks to wider work to tackle the root causes of homelessness in the Borough.
Part of that has been through reducing the need for hotels and B&B accommodation. The Council has 35 new properties since January 2024, making capital investment to reduce long-term spending. And officers have worked with landlords to ensure there is a sufficient available supply of temporary homes.
The Council has also worked to move people out of temporary accommodation altogether. 316 households were helped into settled housing between April and November 2025, a 96% increase compared to the same period in 2022.
There have only been two homeless families staying in hotels or B&B accommodation during December, for only one night in both instances.
Councillor Phillippa Martin-Moran-Bryant, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services, said; “Living out of a hotel room or B&B can be incredibly challenging, especially if you’re one family living out of a single room.
“Our work means there has been a steady reduction in hotel use for families, which are now considered a last resort and a focus on sustainable temporary accommodation
“As a mother myself I know that Christmas is both a wonderful time and a stressful time. I’m delighted that we’re able to do this for some of our most vulnerable residents.”