A report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Households in Temporary Accommodation has revealed that 104 children died between April 2019 and March 2025, with temporary accommodation identified as a contributing factor to their vulnerability, ill-health, or death. The report, which utilised data from the National Child Mortality Database, also noted 140 deaths of children whose main residence was temporary accommodation between October 2023 and September 2025, with ongoing assessments to determine if living conditions played a role.
Record Numbers in Temporary Housing
Separate figures from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government show a record 175,990 children were living in temporary accommodation in England by the end of September, marking a seven per cent increase from the previous year. This surge has intensified concerns about the quality and safety of such housing.
MPs Call for Urgent Action
The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee issued a separate warning that conditions in temporary accommodation are often "unfit for human habitation" and urged the government to improve protections and phase out unsuitable options. Homelessness minister Alison McGovern expressed heartbreak over the findings and reiterated the government's commitment, as outlined in its child poverty strategy, to eradicate unsuitable accommodation, ensure healthcare access, and end unlawful placements in bed and breakfasts.
In response, MPs are urging the government to act now on what they describe as a "devastating" temporary accommodation crisis, calling for immediate measures to address the root causes and provide safe, stable housing for vulnerable families.
