The Children’s Rights Alliance for England (CRAE) has published a report on the experiences of homeless children housed in Bed & Breakfasts (B&B) and Temporary Accommodation (TA) in England. The report claims that children are being housed illegally in B&Bs for long periods, leaving them at risk to sexual exploitation, mental and physical health problems, and disruption to their education. Recommendations include: Local Government Ombudsman’s should take pro-active steps to stop authorities using B&Bs beyond six weeks; temporary accommodation used for families must not have shared facilities and must be child-friendly, clean and safe, with inspections every two weeks to two months; and that all councils have a safeguarding policy for transferring families to TAs or B&Bs.
Source: CRAE Date: 13 June 2018
Further information: Change it!: children speak out on homelessness (PDF)
