Research from the New Economics Foundation (NEF) shows for every primary school there is one class worth of homeless children.
Experts from the NEF have recently published a new report which found between 2020 and 2024 the number of children living in temporary accommodation across Southwark rose from around 1,900 to 3,500.
The statistic demonstrates a faster increase than the 25% witnessed across the rest of England.
What’s more, researchers said the chronic shortage of affordable homes in London is the reason the figure is so high. To give context, separate research from the Mayor of London shows the capital city needs around 66,000 new homes annually, with roughly two-thirds needing to be affordable to meet growing need.
Alongside highlighting stark figures, the research, which was conducted via interviews with professionals in housing, education, health and legal sectors, outlined the harms experienced by children living in such conditions.
For example, the current complex legal system was discovered to make it difficult for parents to challenge decisions if their child was suffering as a result of the conditions of their temporary home. Likewise, researchers found professionals from schools, the healthcare system and social care were failing to communicate well, which left children’s care needs unmet.
‘The damage living in temporary accommodation inflicts on children’s physical and mental wellbeing is well-documented. But this harm is further exacerbated when services are stuck operating in silos and legal duties to protect children are not meaningfully fulfilled,’ Hollie Wright, researcher at the NEF, said. ‘Cash-strapped local councils are struggling to meet the housing needs of families.
‘We need intervention from national government to deal with the crisis. But in the meantime, there are steps that local authorities like Southwark can take to protect children in temporary accommodation.’
Against this backdrop, some of the experts’ recommendations include:
- Trialling ‘temporary accommodation family support coordinator’ roles within local councils.
- Establishing clear pathways for families to challenge unsuitable accommodation.
- Implementing regular reviews of temporary accommodation conditions, with mandatory reporting and public accountability to improve standards cross local authorities.
The full report from the NEF can be accessed here.
Photo by Kyle Peyton via UnSplash
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