The worrying rise in homelessness among children

SUBHEAD 16PT

- By JASMINE NORDEN

MORE than half of teachers in the Midlands have worked at a school in the past year where at least one child was homeless, a survey has found.

Nearly a third (31%) of 7,127 state school teachers said in the past year a child or children they personally taught or interacted with was homeless.

A further 22% said they were aware of at least one child experiencing homelessness at their school that they did not personally teach.

Chief executive of Shelter Sarah Elliott said: “The housing emergency is infiltrating our classrooms and robbing children of their most basic need of a safe and secure home. Children shouldn't have to try and balance their studies with the horrific experience of homelessness.

“Teachers are witnessing the same devastating effects of growing up in temporary accommodation on children that our services see every day”