Record number of children in England forced into temporary housing
Government data show a 5% rise in homeless children in England, reaching 177,530, while overall households in temporary accommodation grew by nearly 4% in a year.
Official statistics indicate that England now has 177,530 children living in temporary accommodation, a 5% jump over the previous year and the 18th straight quarterly rise. The total number of households in such housing also increased by almost 4%, according to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged to launch the biggest council-house building programme since the post-war era, while Housing Secretary Angela Rayner warned that many families remain stuck in unsuitable temporary settings.
Ronesha, a 31-year-old mother in North London, recounted her family’s experience of a seven-week stay in a B&B without basic facilities, followed by moves to other temporary homes, which have disrupted her diabetic son's health management and his schoolwork. Shelter chief executive Sarah Elliot called the situation a failure of policy that has left children living in conditions meant only for short stays. The government also announced an extra £340 million to eradicate rough sleeping.
Why it matters
Rising child homelessness highlights a housing crisis that affects vulnerable families and pressures public policy.
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