The number of children living in temporary accommodation rose sharply in 2023-24 from 145,800 children in October 2023 to 159,380 the following June, government figures showed.
The crisis has also driven a rise in the number of deaths directly linked to temporary accommodation. A total of 74 children died unexpectedly between 2019 and 2024 with their living conditions ruled as a contributing factor to their death.
That figure rose sharply from 55 children in the previous year while, tragically, 58 of the 74 children were under the age of one.
The sobering statistics have led to calls for health and education services to be notified when a child moves into temporary accommodation to prevent further deaths. The Labour government has also been urged to take action to reduce homelessness.
Sylvia Stoianova, NCMD deputy director, said: “Every child death is a tragedy, and these new figures underline how much work there is still to be done to address the number of child deaths associated with temporary accommodation.
“Our data, which is unique and comes from child death overview panels around the country, gives an equally unique opportunity to better understand the links between child mortality and temporary accommodation. We hope that those with the power to make a change will use this insight to improve and save children’s lives.”
The surge in the number of households facing homelessness in the last year has seen local authorities pushed to the limit financially and scrambling for accommodation.
The latest statistics show a disproportionate number of children from deprived areas represented in the final figure with 72% of deaths affecting families living in the bottom-two deprivation quintiles.
Children from minority communities are also more likely to be affected and are disproportionately represented in the data. A total of 38% of deaths come from within non-white families, despite making BAME communities only 27% of the population.
Dr Laura Neilson, CEO of Shared Health Foundation, was among a number of campaigners who convinced the government to change its guidance to ensure every child under the age of two in temporary accommodation has a cot.
The campaigner, who is also a GP, said the issue is “preventable and fixable” and called for schools and doctors to be informed when a child is forced into temporary accommodation.
“It is unsurprising but deeply upsetting to see the increase in child deaths associated with temporary accommodation. Each death is a tragedy. Each death is a family ripped open,” said Dr Neilson.
“The impact of homelessness on children is profound with death being the worst of all outcomes. We know that if you repeatedly move a child or baby, place them in accommodation without a cot or cooking facilities and disconnect a family from support, the chance of death is increased. The result is the deaths of 74 children that, outside of temporary accommodation, would still be alive. This situation is preventable and fixable.”
Dame Siobhain McDonagh, chair of the all-party parliamentary group for temporary accommodation, also called for the government to extend its guidance on cots to become law.
“74 children have died in five years with temporary accommodation contributing to their death. That is more than one every month. How shocking is that?” said the Mitcham and Morden MP.
There have also been calls for MPs for the decent home standard to be extended to temporary accommodation properties following its introduction to the private rented sector under the Renters’ Rights Bill.
Simon Gale, CEO of Justlife – a charity supporting single people in temporary accommodation – said the government must “treat child homelessness with the urgency it deserves”.
Last week homelessness minister Rushanara Ali told the housing select committee that she was “devastated” by children dying in temporary accommodation.
“For me it is an absolute must that we bring down and eliminate the number of people who are in bed and breakfasts,” said Ali.
“We are working with local authorities. We are seeing the impact of the work that is being done between the departments and I want to see that hands-on approach.
“The risk to life – it’s devastating to see the number of children who have died and I’m determined, working with the deputy prime minister, that we do everything we can to tackle this.”
The government has pledged to spend almost £1bn tackling homelessness with a shift towards prevention.
That includes an multi-million uplift for the homelessness prevention grant as well as a pilot to reduce the reliance on bed and breakfast accommodation in 20 locations where it is most prevalent.
Ali added: “That’s why our focus on prevention is key: making sure local authorities have the flexibility to take action, put resources in to help families before local authorities find themselves having to put people in temporary accommodation.”
Big Issue founder and crossbench peer Lord John Bird called the figures a “shameful tragedy” and urged Labour to follow his lead on prevention.
“The government must urgently get to grips with this issue, starting by ensuring that councils are spending homeless prevention grants on truly preventative activities,” said Lord Bird.
“The best way to do this is to establish a Ministry for Poverty Prevention, as I am setting out in a private members’ bill in the House of Lords this Wednesday, which will scrutinise every penny spent and ensure we’re turning off the tap of people falling into homelessness, as well as helping those who are homeless to find long-term sustainable housing.”
Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. Big Issue exists to give homeless and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income. To support our work buy a copy of the magazine or get the app from the App Store or Google Play.
