Around 450 primary schools’ worth of homeless children are
spending lockdown in temporary accommodation amid a chronic
shortage of affordable housing, the Local Government Association
warns today.
Latest figures for England show there are 127,240 children
living in temporary accommodation, including 1,440 households
with children in bed and breakfasts.
The LGA said the number of children having to spend the
latest national lockdown in temporary accommodation reinforces
the urgent need for the Government to ensure building of more
affordable homes to rent, which is central to our recovery from
the pandemic.
Following the extension to the ban on bailiff enforcement
action, the LGA has set out a six-point plan of further action
the Government can take during these critical weeks to protect
renters and prevent further homelessness once the ban is lifted.
It says this is crucial to minimise the disruption to children’s
schooling and home lives as a result of the lockdown.
Cllr David Renard, LGA housing spokesperson, said:
“Living in temporary accommodation is disruptive and
challenging for children and their families in normal times.
These pressures will be being compounded by going into another
lockdown, and on top of that some are unable to attend
school.
“Our six-point plan would give councils a better chance of
being able to move homeless children into permanent accommodation
and also minimise the risk of other households becoming homeless
as a result of the pandemic.
“This should include ensuring the welfare system is able to
support families facing hardship and increasing the housing
supply available to councils, as well as powers for councils to
acquire empty properties and build much-needed social
housing.”
Notes to editors
The LGA, which represents councils, is calling for a
package of measures including:
1. Powers for councils to acquire empty homes, including
making it easier to use Compulsory Purchase Order powers to buy
properties and help move households on from temporary
accommodation;
2. Improved protection through the welfare system,
including maintaining the £20 per week increase in Universal
Credit and maintaining Local Housing Allowance rates at the
lowest third of market rents – both of these measures are
currently due to be removed in April;
3. An immediate review of the impact of the overall
benefits cap in the context of the pandemic;
4. Ensuring that councils have enough resources to support
households at risk of homelessness – this includes proper
resourcing for local welfare schemes, which play a vital role in
alleviating financial hardship;
5. Setting out plans to deliver a step-change in social
housing – the LGA is calling for 100,000 social homes for rent to
be delivered every year
6. Bringing forward the Government’s pledge to end ‘no
fault evictions’, which will prevent more households from
becoming homeless once the stay on bailiff proceedings is
lifted.
Number of primary schools equivalent calculated based on
the average size of a primary school being 281 pupils - https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/school-pupils-and-their-characteristics
Latest temporary accommodation figures - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/930534/Statutory_homelessness_release_Apr-Jun_2020.pdf
Building post-pandemic prosperity - Building 100,000 new
social homes a year - https://www.local.gov.uk/topics/housing-and-planning/building-post-pandemic-prosperity
