Increase in Children Starting the School Year with Nowhere to Live

The number of children homeless in September has risen again and now totals 3,829. While most children and young people are focused on the new school term at this time of year, far too many are preoccupied with the harsh realities of living in emergency accommodation. 

June Tinsley, Head of Advocacy, Barnardos said: “The rise in the number of homeless children and families in September clearly implies the dip seen in the August figures were caused by the recategorisation of some families. Last month, at a time when children should be preoccupied with new teachers, new classrooms and catching up with friends after summer break, for 3,829 children homelessness was weighing heavily on their shoulders. For the thousands of children homeless, and the thousands more worrying about becoming homeless, school can offer a welcome respite from the anxiety and uncertainty at home. Many children living in emergency accommodation find the school day becomes their only chance for normalcy, away from a hub or hotel room.  

“Earlier this month Barnardos welcomed some of the housing measures in the Budget 2019 announcement; but the fact remains, Government policy is not working fast enough to slow the slide of families into homelessness. The figures attest to this as the volume of families exiting homelessness (45) is far less than the number presenting as homeless (207). The ongoing staggering investment to house families in hotels, B&Bs or hubs is unsustainable and institutionalises families as they are not a suitable home for a child. It is high time the Government put more preventative measures in place – such as rent indexing and security of tenure protections- to stop more children becoming homeless. Social housing construction must also be ramped up to end the overreliance on private landlords for public housing. Children need ambitious, imaginative and decisive action from their Government if they are to see change before the start of the next school year.”