Listen: homeless children in temporary accomodation

A new campaign has launched to highlight the devastating realities of homelessness for children in temporary accommodation across England. The ‘UNWELCOME HOME’ doll’s house installation, now on display at IKEA stores in Wembley, Manchester, and Birmingham, reveals the shocking conditions faced by over 151,630 children homeless in temporary accommodation. This is the highest number recorded since 2004 and marks a 15% increase in just the past year.

The research from IKEA and Shelter is stark, showing life for families, homeless in temporary accommodation, where many families live in cramped, unsafe, and unhealthy conditions for prolonged periods. The so-called “temporary” nature of this accommodation has become anything but, with nearly half (47%) of homeless families trapped in these living conditions for over two years. Families are forced to endure problems such as dangerous mould, faulty wiring, overcrowding, and even infestations, all while trying to maintain some semblance of normal life for their children.

The campaign encourages the public to take action by signing an open letter calling on the UK Government to commit to this ambitious house-building programme and hopes to ensure that by 2030, half a million people will have access to a better life at home.

Ros spoke to Deborah Garvie, policy manager at Shelter and Hilary Jenkins from IKEA UK and Ireland.