This month, radical changes to the benefits system allied to London's acute housing shortage leaves the capital at the eye of a powerful storm. More than 360,000 London households are registered on council waiting lists; homelessness is increasing, and nearly 40,000 people are living in temporary accommodation – a solution which is as expensive as it is inadequate.

As private sector rents continue to rise, London boroughs have been forced to use bed and breakfast or other temporary accommodation to house people in need.