This report highlights the devastating impact of temporary accommodation (TA) on children’s health, development, and wellbeing, with a focus on Southwark, London. Rising homelessness has led to prolonged stays in unsuitable housing for more than 160,000 children in England, often lasting years rather than weeks. Poor housing conditions, overcrowding, frequent moves, and instability severely harm children’s mental health, education, and social development. The situation is particularly dire in Southwark, where the number of children in TA rose by 77% between 2020 and 2024. Disturbingly, at least 74 children died in TA in the past year, underscoring the urgent need for systemic reform.
Despite existing legislation designed to ensure suitable housing, chronic shortages, under-resourcing, and weak inter-agency coordination leave families trapped in unsafe and inadequate conditions. Stakeholder interviews reveal widespread failures, including poor communication between services and a reactive approach to family homelessness. To address these challenges, the report proposes new statutory duties for cross-agency communication and dedicated local authority “TA family support coordinators.” It recommends immediate actions such as enforcing suitability assessments, piloting support roles, improving inter-agency protocols, strengthening accountability, resourcing frontline staff, and providing legal pathways for families to challenge unsafe housing. Holistic reforms are urgently needed to safeguard children’s rights, prevent long-term harm, and ensure a more coordinated response to family homelessness.
