LONDON: More than 90,000 children will be homeless in London this Christmas. Many are being forced to live in cramped temporary accommodation such as hostels and bed and breakfast hotels because of a shortage of suitable affordable housing.
Figures out yesterday show the number of homeless children in the capital has risen to 91,175, from 83,963 last year. The figure is almost three quarters of the total number of homeless children in England - 130,000.
A separate set of figures shows that there are almost 16,000 empty council and housing association properties in London. Lynne Featherstone, London spokesman for the Liberal Democrats, said: "This is a desperate situation. It is shocking that more than 91,000 children in London are being denied a chance of having a safe home and a good education."
The Hornsey and Wood Green MP said homelessness led to a wide range of social problems, particularly among children who are vulnerable to the upheaval and insecurity of a life spent moving from one home to another.
She said: "I have families coming to my surgery every week in a terrible plight because they live in overcrowded accommodation and their children have to move from school to school or their older children end up on the street because there is no room for them at home.
"Imagine trying to bring up children in this situation and all the social problems associated with it. I’m sick of warm words and promises - these figures show the government is failing to provide decent housing for the children who are most in need of support.
"In Haringey alone there are 20,000 people on the housing register and living in temporary accommodation. This costs a fortune."
The figures from Ruth Kelly’s Department for Communities and Local Government show the number of homeless families in London has been rising steadily.
In 2003-04 there were 44,620, rising to 46,360 the following year and to 48,360 in 2005-06. The current total of homeless families is 47,752, who include 34,550 living in accommodation leased by councils from private landlords, 2,200 in hostels, including women’s refuges, and 280 in bed and breakfasts. – London Evening Standard
