Our young people are being routinely failed by the housing crisis. This comes as the latest quarterly homelessness statistics reveal that 151,630 children in England are living in temporary accommodation. A shocking number, that represents a 14.7% rise in the number of households with children in temporary accommodation from 31 March of last year.
The deputy prime minister and housing secretary, Angela Rayner, said ‘This is nothing short of a national scandal’. Temporary accommodation, particularly for children, has devastating long-term impacts if not resolved, and as reported, people often find themselves in this situation for years. As stated by Trust for London, insecure and temporary accommodation has a direct link to an increasing in anxiety and mental health problems and interrupts education by disrupting a child’s schooling and lack of space.
Mental health, and other vulnerabilities, have a direct impact on anti-social behaviour effects, those with vulnerabilities are likely to feel the greatest impact of anti-social behaviour and are likely to feel isolated and forgotten. Children are perhaps the greatest example of preventative policy making for better wellbeing, and the insecurity of accommodation for young people does little to help the growing problem of school absence, lack of stability and a rise in anti-social behaviour.
A report from the Reach Alliance, supported by researchers from the University College London (UCL), articulates that temporary accommodation (TA) does not adequately consider the play need of children which results in insufficient space, distress from instability and mental fatigue. The impact of this can have devastating consequences on a children’s development late on in their life.[1]
Child of the North and Centre for Young Lives Report
This is further made more pressing by the reality that many of our young people face, a report by Child of the North and Centre for Young Lives, for example, highlighted approaches and complex reasons for school absences. Pupils who are persistently absence are more likely to come disadvantaged background, in 2023 it was reported that 37% were eligible for free school meals, and almost half (46%) were supported by a social worker, the socioeconomic north south divide is also present; the north’s unauthorised absence is 34% higher than in the south of England. These children are also, as a result of their socioeconomic background, more likely than average to be in temporary accommodation. As the report recommends, it is important to enhance ‘early intervention’ involving a ‘concerted effort to address underlying factors, such as mental health, family stress and socioeconomic challenge’. Temporary accommodation, therefore, presents a unique socioeconomic challenge for many of the most vulnerable, and the investigation into its provision is almost certain to improve outcomes for the most vulnerable, therefore providing resilience to further challenges presented as they become functioning members of communities across the country.
What is temporary accommodation?
Local authorities have a legal duty to house those who are homeless, according to priority need, this includes families with children and those with vulnerabilities. Initially, this is in what is termed ‘emergency accommodation’ that should only be for a short time. If a council decides the household meets the criteria for longer-term help, temporary accommodation will be provided until a permanent home can be found. This may include a variety of accommodation such as hostels managed by the local council, hostels managed by charities, or flats and houses rented through a private property owner. [2] The key and vital difference between temporary accommodation and other types of accommodation offered is that the individual has not yet been offered a stable or permanent alternative.
People who are placed in temporary accommodation often have little or no tenancy rights. Under the Housing Act 1996 anyone can be placed in temporary accommodation by local authorities provide they are deemed ‘vulnerable enough’.[3] This can also mean being placed through other means and legal duties however, such as those by either National Probation Service or Adult Social Care, they can also be placed through self-placement. Unfortunately, temporary accommodation is rarely temporary. Research from Justlife, have shown that ‘residents can be stuck in this accommodation from anywhere between 6 months and 36 years’ (Lifting the Lid, 2017).
There is also what is term Unsupported Temporary Accommodation (UTA), is a term used to describe private rented accommodation, where people who are homeless do not have permanent residency status, also they receive very little support to find a home. Therefore, they have very few rights and can be evicted at short notice.
How can temporary accommodation impact wellbeing?
As previously mentioned, temporary accommodation has a variety of devastating impacts on individuals and the community. In some research form 2021, it was found that a large majority of those surveyed in temporary accommodation had experienced isolation, loneliness, paranoia and anxiety (Hidden Homelessness Exposed, 2021), further, in a survey of clients at Justlife, in 2013, 94% reported mental health issues (Not Home, 2014). It is also found that those with clinically diagnoses mental health issues such as ‘depression, personality disorder, anxiety and psychosis find that living in this accommodation exacerbates their mental health issues.
Government policy landscape and HCLG inquiry
As the housing crisis looms ever larger, the policy agenda becomes firmly set on interventions to help eliminate homelessness and help improve the lives of those affected by homelessness. One of the Bills currently going through parliament, and on its second reading in the Commons, is the Rough Sleeping (Decriminalisation) Bill. Tabled by MP Layla Moran for Oxford West and Abingdon, it is a presentation Bill and therefore it is unlikely it will become law unless it receives unanimous support from MPs and can pass it’s second reading without debate. However, what it highlights is that the policy agenda is focused on the experiences of those struggling with housing insecurity and homelessness, and aims to counter the controversy surrounding the Criminal Justice Bill 2024, aiming to replace the Vagrancy Act 1824. Labelled as criminalising rough sleeping; it originally proposed that authorities should have the power to move rough sleepers on and to issue fines of £1,000 - £2,500. After much campaigning this was amended by at the time, Home Secretary, James Cleverly on the 13th of May 2024.
Responding to the growing crisis of children and families in temporary accommodation, the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee has launched its first inquiry of this Parliament, in order to examine the experiences of those in temporary accommodation, and how it could be improved. The cross-party inquiry will scrutinise issues around the quality of temporary accommodation and consider how it could be improved. Chair of the HCLG Committee stated: “The housing crisis means that families are increasingly being housed in sub-standard temporary accommodation, meaning children may spend years living in places which are not suitable or adequate to grow up in”.
In the first evidence session of the short inquiry, the Committee will question representatives from housing and homeless organisations, this included: Crisis, St Mungo’s, Shared Health Foundation, and CARIS Families. Following on from this, the second panel will consist of people from local authorities, this includes District Councils Network, London Councils, and the Heads of Housing at Rochdale and Hastings councils. The Committee is expected to finish this inquiry, with any questions to Government ministers in the new year.
There are a variety of questions that the inquiry will consider, this includes:
- The impact of temporary accommodation on children's development, health and wellbeing.
- Housing quality in temporary accommodation.
- The use of B&Bs and other unsuitable temporary accommodation; and
- How the Government, local authorities, and accommodation providers could better support children and families living in temporary accommodation.
It is hoped that government consultation and multi-agency work with this inquiry will help to investigate the problems with the current provision of temporary accommodation.
The inquiry can be found here: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/8555/children-in-temporary-accommodation/
[1] https://reachalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/UK-PlaceToPlay-Final56.pdf
[2] https://www.homelessnessimpact.org/intervention/temporary-accommodation#:~:text=Temporary%20accommodation%20is%20a%20type,through%20a%20private%20property%20owner.
[3] https://www.justlife.org.uk/our-work/knowledge-hub/what-is-temporary-accommodation
