Members of Parliament have issued a stark warning to the government regarding the "devastating" state of temporary accommodation across the United Kingdom. This urgent call to action follows the publication of alarming new data linking the deaths of more than 100 children to their living conditions in such housing.
A National Scandal Uncovered
According to a report released by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Households in Temporary Accommodation, a total of 104 children died with temporary accommodation listed as a contributing factor to their vulnerability, ill-health, or death. This data, sourced from the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD), covers the period from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2025.
The APPG has described these findings as "absolutely scandalous," highlighting a grave public health and social care emergency. Temporary accommodation, often referred to as a form of "hidden" homelessness, includes locations such as bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) and hostels, which are frequently unsuitable for long-term family living.
Record Highs in Child Occupancy
The crisis is deepening, with the number of children living in temporary accommodation reaching unprecedented levels. Official statistics from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, published in February, reveal that 175,990 children were in such accommodation in England at the end of September. This figure represents a 7 per cent increase compared to the same point in 2024.
Furthermore, the APPG noted that between October 2023 and September 2025, 140 children whose main residence was recorded as temporary accommodation had died. Assessments are currently ongoing to determine if their living conditions directly contributed to these tragic outcomes. The report cautions that confirmed links could significantly raise the current death toll, painting an even grimmer picture of the situation.
Political Outrage and Calls for Reform
Dame Siobhain McDonagh, chairwoman of the APPG, expressed profound dismay at the rising figures. "I am appalled to see yet another rise in the number of children whose deaths have been linked to temporary accommodation," she stated. She also highlighted that new data on stillbirths and neonatal deaths was "equally shocking," adding, "We should all be outraged by these figures."
In a parallel development, the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee issued a separate report warning that conditions in temporary accommodation are "often so poor as to be unfit for human habitation." The committee, comprising a group of MPs, has urged the government to implement stronger protections against substandard conditions. Their recommendations include phasing out unsuitable options like shared facilities for families and developing a long-term strategy to ensure a supply of quality temporary housing.
Charity and Ministerial Responses
Florence Eshalomi, chairperson of the HCLG Committee, remarked, "It is truly devastating that this crisis has become a normalised emergency, with many families stuck in so-called temporary accommodation, and without a permanent roof over their head, for years."
Housing charity Shelter echoed this sentiment, labelling the situation a "national scandal for any child to die homeless in this country." The charity attributed the crisis to a "dire lack of secure and genuinely affordable social homes," which has trapped over 175,000 children in unsafe temporary accommodation.
Homelessness minister Alison McGovern responded to the findings with emotional gravity. "It breaks my heart that B&Bs are tragically contributing to the deaths of children," she said. "We must and we are improving the whole system, so every child can get the best start in life."
McGovern pointed to the government's child poverty strategy, unveiled in December, which commits to "eradicate unsuitable or poor-quality accommodation and ensure children in temporary accommodation do not experience gaps in healthcare provision." The strategy also pledges to "end the unlawful placement of families in bed and breakfasts beyond the six-week limit." To support this, an £8 million pilot programme will continue for the next three years across 20 local authorities with the highest numbers of families in such circumstances.
The mounting evidence and political pressure underscore an urgent need for comprehensive reform to address the temporary accommodation crisis and prevent further loss of young lives.
