More than 56,000 primary school children in England will be homeless this Christmas
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A key charity warns of the heartbreaking number of children who will be homeless this Christmas as the government pledges an extra £1bn funding for accommodation. “It’s heartbreaking that one in three primary school classrooms include a child who will spend this Christmas homeless,” Ms Neate said.
![[Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said 160,000 children faced spending Christmas without a stable home]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/11/06/13/a924ac585b6a1d7251297e9bd2d52603Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzMwOTg0Mzc4-2.77761455.jpg)
Analysis of government figures by Shelter shows that there are 56,056 children aged 5-11 living in temporary accommodation in England. According to census figures there are 4.7 children in England in that age bracket. A record number of 123,100 households are living in temporary accommodation, such as hotels and short-term flats, including almost 160,000 children, government stats show.
The analysis comes as the government announces almost £1bn of new funding for English councils to tackle and reduce homelessness. The Ministry of Housing has promised more resources for frontline services supporting rough sleepers and more funding for councils to help homeless families in temporary accommodation.
Deputy prime minister and secretary of state for housing, Angela Rayner said 160,000 children faced spending Christmas without a stable home. “I am determined to break the cycle of spiralling homelessness and get back on track to ending it for good,” she said.
“This largest-ever investment marks a turning point, giving councils the tools they need to act quickly and put in place support for people to tackle, reduce and prevent homelessness. It’s time to turn the tide.”. The charity said one mother, Fauzia, 44, was made homeless with her husband and three children by a no-fault Section 21 eviction seven years ago. They are now living in temporary accommodation in Ealing and face long journeys each day to get to school in Waltham Cross on the other side of London.
