Emma Clay had to carry all her possessions around with her in a black sack even though she was about to give birth.

She was living in temporary bed-and- breakfast housing after being accepted as homeless and there was no security.

Emma's story is just one example of the human misery for those who live in bed-and-breakfast accommodation.

No wonder Brighton and Hove City Council has been desperate to reduce the 300 households in this form of tenure.

Now it has made a successful bid to the Government for financial help to help housing associations take over properties in the private sector.

It will not get everyone like Emma out of unsatisfactory bed-and-breakfast but it will be a big help.

The basic need of every human being is for a secure, safe and affordable home. It need not be a palace but it has to be available.

Brighton and Hove has far less social housing than other cities of its size and a much bigger privately-rented sector.

It makes sense to see if the solution to some of the most desperate housing problems can be found in the private sector, at least for temporary homes.

The long-term solution must be to provide more social housing, whether through the city council or housing associations.