Homelessness

Coupled with poverty, child homelessness in the UK is increasing. The latest annual research commissioned by the National Housing Federation says that in England alone:  

• Almost 2 million (1-in-5) children are living in overcrowded, unaffordable or unsuitable homes.  
• Nearly 124,000 homeless children are living in temporary accommodation. (For example, ‘sofa surfing’ or staying with friends or family without any formal arrangement being in place and often sleeping in spaces not designed as bedrooms.) 
• 293,000 children are living in homes that are unsuitable for their needs or health requirements, 
• 283,000 children are living with their families in other people’s homes – effectively homeless – because their families cannot afford a home of their own. 

Using the definition of homelessness below, some of these people are already considered homeless, and the rest are at risk of homelessness.  

Homelessness goes beyond the traditional concept of people sleeping on the streets. Sometimes, feeling homeless can go beyond the definition above:

One child I taught didn’t actually know where she was going after school…Another child that kept being dragged between mum and dad. That is a common phenomenon, they don’t quite know where they are going to be staying whether with dad or mum.

A teacher speaking to Shelter

Temporary accommodation 

Temporary accommodation can mean several different things. It can include families staying in bed and breakfasts (although this has been limited by the government), reception centres (large buildings with multiple bedsits and shared kitchen/dining facilities), converted office blocks or shipping containers to name a few. 

All forms of temporary accommodation come with their own issues, such as: 

• lack of space (indoor and/or outdoor); 
• poor conditions; 
• issues with room heating control; 
• distance from “home” (i.e., where the family base is, the children go to school, etc.); 
• constantly being moved from one place to another; 
• others also placed in the accommodation. 

Because of the nature of temporary accommodation, there is often a mix of people placed there, some of whom may have additional issues (e.g., mental ill-health, substance misuse, criminality) which may be a risk to the safety of children. 

Homelessness and safeguarding 

When families are homeless, parents can feel anger or sometimes guilt at the unfairness affecting their children. Many do a tremendous job of minimising the impact where they can and do their best to ensure their children are well cared for and feel valued. 

Homelessness in itself is not a safeguarding matter, however, it can be a factor in children being at risk of harm due to the stresses it creates in families and the limitations it places on choice. Such harms may include: 

• their basic needs not being met (e.g., food, warmth, clothing) or otherwise being neglected; 
• social isolation, bullying; 
• the impact of stress within a household (including emotional abuse or domestic abuse); 
• exploitation; 
• effects on learning and development; 
• caring responsibilities; 
• poor self-esteem and emotional health issues (in child and parent); 
• a risk of substance misuse (in child and parent). 

16 and 17-year-olds 

Where 16 and 17-year-olds are homeless, there are significant associated vulnerabilities. There are duties on local authorities’ children’s and housing services to work together to establish whether help can be offered for the young person to return home or prevent the need for them to leave home.  

Any such work should run alongside an assessment of need, and if emergency accommodation is required this should be provided whilst the assessment is taking place. If the accommodation lasts more than 24 hours, then the young person will become looked after. 

There are two circumstances where a young person is not likely to be provided with accommodation by children’s services: 

1. If they are assessed as not being a child in need by children’s services. 
2. The young person is deemed to have the capacity to make informed decisions (see the Mental Capacity Act, 2005), and after being presented with all the information and potential implications of each option, decides that they do not want to be looked after by the local authority. 

In these situations, the responsibility shifts to the housing authority for the area. More information about the requirements on children’s services and housing services can be found here.