Report lays bare 'abhorrent' state of homeless housing

One family living in 'temporary' accommodation since 1998

- HOLLY BANCROFT

Children are spending their whole childhoods living in temporary accommodation, with one family in homelessness housing since 1998, a report has said.

In a new report into the dire state of England’s temporary accommodation, Citizens UK found that councils are charging homeless people hundreds of pounds in fees to access basic services, such as storage and washing facilities.

Affluent London boroughs are also moving homeless families into more deprived areas outside their boroughs, the report said.

The number of families in temporary accommodation across England is at record levels, with some 165,510 children living in this precarious housing as of the end of 2024. Nearly 130,000 households now live in temporary accommodation, which includes hostels and B&Bs.

Citizens UK and Trust for London researchers looked in detail at the temporary accommodation provided in London, Birmingham and Manchester. London is the epicentre of homelessness in England, with over 70,000 households in temporary accommodation.

The report found that one family with children in Croydon has been living in temporary accommodation since 1998. In Westminster, another family had been in temporary accommodation since 2001, and in Brent, a household had been housed since 2003, the report said.

As well as families, there has been a rise in retired people being moved into temporary accommodation. According to freedom of information data, obtained by Citizens UK, a 97-year-old from Brent had been in temporary housing for three years.