Temporary Accommodation Linked to 104 Child Deaths in England Over Six Years
Living in temporary accommodation has contributed to the deaths of 104 children in England over the past six years, with 76 of those children under the age of one, according to alarming new data. The statistics, which also show 64 stillbirths and 27 neonatal deaths involving mothers in temporary accommodation in the UK in 2024, highlight a deepening housing crisis that experts warn is endangering lives.
Rising Numbers and Urgent Calls for Action
Siobhain McDonagh, chair of the all-party parliamentary group for households in temporary accommodation, which compiled the data, expressed outrage at the increase in child deaths linked to such housing. With an estimated 135,000 households, including nearly 176,000 children, living in temporary accommodation in England, McDonagh called for urgent, sustained action to reduce homelessness and ensure no family faces life-threatening conditions.
"We should all be outraged by these figures," McDonagh said. "We need urgent, sustained action to bring down the number of homeless children and to ensure that no family is left in conditions that put lives at risk. Because until that happens, we cannot honestly say we are doing enough."
Data Sources and Further Investigations
The parliamentary group used data from the National Child Mortality Database, revealing that between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2025, 104 children died with temporary accommodation recorded as a contributing factor to their vulnerability, ill-health, or death. Additionally, figures showed 140 children died with their main residence listed as temporary accommodation between October 2023 and September 2025, each subject to a formal death review that could increase the total.
For the first time, data collected by MBRRACE-UK, a University of Oxford research project on pregnancy-related deaths, found that out of 3,303 baby deaths between 1 January and 3 December 2024, at least 91 (3%) involved mothers living in temporary accommodation.
Expert Condemnation and Political Criticism
Matt Downie, chief executive at Crisis, described the situation as "a normalised emergency that rarely makes the headlines or the top of the government’s priority list." He urged for immediate action, stating, "No child should have to grow up without a safe place to call home, let alone lose their life as a result of our broken housing and homelessness system. It’s deplorable and, crucially, avoidable."
Dr Laura Neilson, chief executive of the Shared Health Foundation, called the figures "absolutely scandalous," attributing the deaths to political choices and unfit systems. "These deaths are not inevitable," Neilson said. "They are the direct result of political choices, of systems that are not fit for purpose, and of a housing crisis that is pushing families into conditions that endanger their lives."
Parliamentary Report on Unfit Accommodation
A separate report by the cross-party housing, communities and local government committee concluded that families are living in temporary accommodation that is "unfit for human habitation." Florence Eshalomi, a Labour MP and committee chair, highlighted issues such as lack of cooking facilities, unsafe spaces for children, and hazards like mould or rats.
The committee criticised the government for failing to collect official data on the physical condition of temporary accommodation, noting it is "spending more than ever on temporary accommodation without a good understanding of the quality of the provision this money is paying for." While welcoming plans to apply Awaab’s law and the decent homes standard, the report warned these measures are insufficient and called for regular inspections and an end to shared accommodation use.
Government Response and Future Protections
Homelessness minister Alison McGovern responded, citing the Child Poverty Strategy's commitment to eradicating poor-quality accommodation and ensuring healthcare for children in temporary housing. She also mentioned the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, aimed at providing strong protections for vulnerable children.
However, experts and MPs stress that without immediate and comprehensive action, the crisis will continue to claim young lives, underscoring the need for systemic change to address the root causes of homelessness and inadequate housing.
