Struggling to Thrive: Limited Opportunities for Development and Progression

In recent years, the issue of children in temporary accommodation (TA) has come to the forefront, with over 160,000 children currently residing in such conditions across England. This article explores the challenges faced by these children, the efforts being made to improve their living conditions, and the systemic constraints that hinder progress.

One of the most pressing concerns is the direct impact of poor conditions on the physical and mental health of children in TA. Issues such as damp, mould, and overcrowding are prevalent, leading to significant health, developmental, and psychological harms. In fact, it has been reported that over half of the children in TA miss school days due to housing instability.

To address this issue, proposals have been made to improve coordination and support among local authority housing, health, education, and social services. Two initial proposals include the introduction of a statutory "duty to communicate" and the creation of a dedicated TA family support coordinator role within local authorities.

The statutory duty to communicate aims to ensure timely information sharing among the relevant agencies, while the TA family support coordinator role is designed to provide consistent, holistic support to families. Additionally, legislative changes are being considered to address the crisis, with a focus on protecting children's rights and wellbeing.

However, the implementation of these proposals is hindered by systemic constraints, including severe housing shortages, under-resourcing, and fragmented inter-agency communication. To overcome these challenges, it is crucial to establish clear, accessible pathways for families to challenge unsuitable accommodation, supported by legal aid and advocacy services.

Moreover, regular reviews of TA conditions, with mandatory reporting and public accountability, are essential to improve standards across local authorities. This transparency is necessary to hold authorities accountable for their actions and to drive improvements in the quality of temporary accommodation.

It is also important to note that existing statutory frameworks, including the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, require local authorities to ensure suitable accommodation. However, the implementation of these requirements falls short, leading to the tragic loss of at least 74 children in TA settings in the past year.

To address this, it is necessary to rigorously enforce statutory obligations around suitability assessments and housing placements, with clear accountability mechanisms in place. Furthermore, developing comprehensive inter-agency communication protocols and piloting dedicated TA family support coordinator roles are key steps towards improving the lives of children in TA.

A case study by the report focuses on Southwark, a borough in London, which witnessed a 77% increase in children in TA between 2020 and 2024. The report underscores the urgent need for action, not only in Southwark but across England, to ensure the wellbeing and rights of children in temporary accommodation are protected.

In conclusion, the crisis in temporary accommodation is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach. By providing adequate resources and training for frontline housing and social care staff, implementing legislative changes, and improving inter-agency communication and coordination, we can work towards a future where children in TA are no longer at risk of poor health, developmental delays, and psychological harm.