Today we launched the findings of our research, in partnership with the Cardinal Hume Centre and the Westminster Foundation, into the experiences of families living in temporary accommodation in Westminster.
More than 3,000 children live in temporary accommodation provided by Westminster City Council. We wanted to better understand the impact this has on their lives.
Sadly, our findings confirm a growing evidence base that demonstrates the harmful impact that living in temporary accommodation can have on children and families. It is far more than a housing problem; it impacts on health, education and child development. It adds financial pressures and it is a cause and consequence of inequality. During the research, we heard about the upheaval and trauma that so often accompanies moving into temporary accommodation, and we heard how families lacked a plan or realistic hope of moving out of this extremely challenging situation. We learnt that the experience is, very often, not ‘temporary’ and it prevents families from realising their idea of home.
Download our full research report here and a research summary here.
The research was carried out by Becky Rice, an independent researcher. We would like to extend special thanks to all the families who shared their experiences and made this possible.
Contact Thienhuong Nguyen, Scheme Manager, on [email protected] if you’d like to find out more about how you can help and visit our research partners website: The Cardinal Hume Centre.