'This Is No Place for a Child': the Experiences of Homeless Families In

‘THIS IS NO PLACE FOR A CHILD’ The experiences of homeless families in emergency accommodation

November 2015 shelter.org.uk CONTENTS

Introduction 3 Methods 4 Definitions 4 Data collection 4 Analysis 4 About our sample 4 Homelessness in Britain 5 How many children are homeless? 5 Where are they living? 5 The living space of homeless children in hostels and B&Bs 6 Daily life in emergency accommodation 9 Impact on children, parents, families and communities 13 Conclusion 18 Why are there homeless children? 18 What can fix this? 19

Authors: Jenny Pennington and Catharine Banks Acknowledgements: Huge gratitude is due to Susan Evans and Bill Rashleigh from Shelter who recruited and interviewed all twenty families and all six learning mentors and teachers as well as assisted with the analysis. Thank you also to Shelter colleagues, Hilary Burkitt, Kate Webb and Roger Harding for their comments on drafts of the report.

‘This is no place for a child’: the experiences of homeless families in emergency accommodation 2 INTRODUCTION

‘Sometimes he’s screaming when he’s end of June 2015, 105,000 children were back here saying “I hate mummy’s house homeless in Great Britain - the equivalent I don’t want to be here”. What can I say of four in every school1 and the number of to him? I don’t want to be here either. It homeless children is rising. Because there breaks your heart watching him cry like is a shortage of suitable homes, more that, knowing what he had before.’ L, 24, and more homeless families are forced to Mum spend more time in bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) and hostel accommodation, where Successive governments have failed to families have to share facilities with others. build the housing we need for decades. The number of homeless families living in This has pushed up the price of housing, B&Bs alone has grown from 590 in June making homeownership unaffordable to 2009 to 2,700 in June 2015 - more than many families on average incomes, and four times as many. led to a shortage of genuinely affordable social housing. As a result, more and more For this report, twenty families shared low-income families live in insecure private their experiences about living and raising rented accommodation where rents take their children in B&Bs and hostels. We up almost half their income. Dwindling also spoke to six school workers about the access to housing benefit and legal advice impact of homelessness on their school. is leading to thousands of hard pressed The research tells the stories of homeless families losing their home. children, their living situation, how it affects their day to day life, their health, The devastating results of the housing their wellbeing, their education and their shortage are now being felt by over a childhood. hundred thousand children. As of the

1. The number of homeless children and the number of families living in B&Bs in Great Britain is based on the latest government statistics on homelessness from England (Department for Communities and Local Government), Scotland (The Scottish Government) and Wales (Stats Wales). We calculated the number of children who are homeless in temporary accommodation in Great Britain by adding the total number of children in temporary accommodation in Scotland to the total number of children in temporary accommodation in England. We estimated the number of children in temporary accommodation in Wales using the number of families in temporary accommodation in Wales. We reached a total of 105,251 children in temporary accommodation in England, Scotland and Wales at the end of Q2 2015. The number of schools in Great Britain is based on government statistics on the number of schools from England, Scotland and Wales. There are a total of 28,533 schools in Great Britain. Therefore this is equivalent to 3.7 homeless children per school, or four to the nearest whole number.

‘This is no place for a child’: the experiences of homeless families in emergency accommodation 3 Methods We conducted interviews with six teachers and learning mentors in London schools. The research draws on multiple Interviews were conducted in their place of perspectives of the experience of work. We have referred to all interviewees homeless children living in B&B and as learning mentors in the report. These hostel accommodation. We analysed interviews were not intended to be a government data, interviewed twenty representative sample of school workers parents living in bed and breakfast or across England. They informed us of some hostel accommodation and interviewed of the struggles that schools face in areas six teachers and learning mentors2 from where the housing crisis is biting hard. We London schools who had experience also gathered government statistics about working with homeless children. homeless families in England, Scotland and Wales. Definitions Analysis We focused on families in non-self- contained accommodation, such as Qualitative interviews were transcribed B&Bs and hostels. These are places and then analysed using thematic where families share facilities with other analysis. We agreed a set of themes as a residents. We have termed this form of framework for analysis. These were based temporary accommodation, ‘emergency on themes identified in a fieldwork debrief accommodation’. Government guidance meeting and the themes identified in the on the use of bed and breakfast interview topic guide. As a mixed methods accommodation to house homeless study, we went through a final process families is clear that it is accommodation of triangulating the data. This allowed us to be used in an emergency. It is deemed to review findings from different stages to be unsuitable for families, should only against each other and understand the be used when no other suitable housing trends from the evidence as a whole. can be found, and even then, no family should live there for more than six weeks. About our sample Other forms of non-self-contained accommodation are not bound by the six We interviewed twenty families. We week rule. However, the conditions and sampled families by starting with some situation experienced by families living in and using them and our services to meet this accommodation are very similar. more that met the criteria. Fifteen families were in London and five were out of Data collection London. Fourteen had children aged under 10. Nine had been in their accommodation We conducted twenty in-depth interviews for longer than six months. We do not with homeless families. We collected claim that it is representative of all standardised information across all the families in emergency accommodation. families using close ended questions. However, it gives us a sense of the types We also gathered qualitative information of situations facing families in this type of about experiences and feelings through accommodation and the impact of these open ended discussion. Interviews were situations. Names have been removed for conducted over the phone and in person anonymity. All of the words are their own. in the bed and breakfast environment. This gave further insight into the living conditions experienced by families.

2. Learning mentors are based in a particular school and provide pastoral support to children with social needs.

‘This is no place for a child’: the experiences of homeless families in emergency accommodation 4 HOMELESSNESS IN BRITAIN

How many children are forty nine other families – all strangers - a kitchen with twelve other families and homeless? a bathroom with twenty people. Some At the end of June 2015, 105,000 children families that we spoke to had been living were homeless and living in temporary in this type of accommodation for over a accommodation. Their families had all year. been accepted as statutory homeless There are special rules in place in by a local authority, who had a duty to order to limit the use of some shared rehouse them, however they were unable accommodation. Bed and breakfast to do so immediately because of our accommodation is not considered suitable chronic housing shortage. We know from for children. Therefore local authorities our services work that many more may are required not to place families with be ‘hidden homeless’ living with friends children in bed and breakfasts unless it and family while they try and find a more is an emergency and then for not more permanent place to live. Other families than six weeks. However, other forms may have been homeless but were not of non-self-contained accommodation recorded in the official statistics because are not covered by these restrictions. the council’s Housing Options service Attention often focuses on B&Bs because prevented or relieved their homelessness. of the specific restrictions. However, we The number of homeless children frequently see comparable conditions in decreased over the course of the other non-self-contained accommodation. decade to 2010. This was due to a range We have looked at all self-contained of factors, including increases in the accommodation, in order to draw this out. homelessness prevention grant and the Because of the shortage of affordable granting of new powers to local authorities housing, councils are having to use to assist families before they lost their emergency accommodation to house home. Despite these protections still being homeless families more and more. Its in place, the number of homeless families use has grown substantially in recent has increased over the last five years. years: The number of families living in B&Bs alone is more than four times higher Where are they living? than six years ago. In the last year alone, the number of families in B&Bs in Great Children in ‘temporary accommodation’ Britain has grown by 25%. This is despite can live in a variety of types of restrictions on their use. accommodation: from flats to mobile 3 homes . One in eleven of these More families are becoming homeless homeless children live in ‘emergency and more and more families are having to accommodation’ (see ‘definitions’ for how spend time in emergency accommodation. we use this term). This includes B&Bs, The next three sections will set out what hostels and other shared accommodation. emergency accommodation looks like, These are places where families share what it is like to live your life in this form of facilities with other residents. They can be temporary accommodation and finally the large buildings. For example, one of the impact this is having on homeless children, families we spoke to during this research parents and families. lived in one room, shared a building with

3. See further details of some of the places where homeless families are accommodated here

‘This is no place for a child’: the experiences of homeless families in emergency accommodation 5 The living space of Most families reported that their small room was also in a state of disrepair homeless children in (beyond their control). Four fifths of hostels and B&Bs families said that their room was poor quality. Many gave examples of disrepair Families with children rarely experience the including mould, poorly secured most visible symptom of homelessness cupboards, stained mattresses, windows 4 – having to sleep rough . However, our that wouldn’t close. Three families investigation reveals that children in spontaneously mentioned bed bugs. ‘We emergency accommodation are clearly just see them walking around on our beds’. without a home. They do not have the This made it even harder to relax or sleep space to live their lives – to play, study, or in the room and yet they had no other relax. Nor a place of safety where they can private space to use. Others had serious grow and develop. hazards. This made them fear for their Living space children’s safety.

All twenty families were living in just one ‘The fridge was leaking. There was one room each. In one case, this meant that a plug that was overloaded with leads that family of four was sharing a space eight was sat in a puddle from the fridge. No fire foot by seven foot. There was just enough alarms. Nothing.’ J, 34, Mum space for a bunk bed, a cot, a wardrobe, a The poor quality of the rooms further sink in the corner and space for someone restricted the space that families could to stand by the door. use, or let their children play in.

All of the families lived in rooms with ‘I wouldn’t let K crawl around the room. A 2 fewer beds than people. Fourteen parents year old wants to play [and explore] on the had to share beds with their children. floor but not in there.’N, 24, Mum For example one family with two adults, a three year old and two week old baby The extent of the cramped and poor had to share two beds pushed together. conditions that parents told us about In another parents had to share a double was corroborated by learning mentors. bed with their two year old while there two Many had experience of home visits with school age daughters shared a single bed. homeless families in their area:

‘Me and my daughter share the bed. She ‘I think that sometimes unless you’ve wriggles around all night. Half the time seen what people are living in, you her feet are on my head so I don’t sleep don’t fully understand it, or imagine it. I properly and there’s no place for me to put think sometimes people say oh this is a little bed or cot’. S, 30, Mum happening, and people don’t necessarily think through what it is.’ Learning Mentor ‘My daughter is fifteen and she’s always been used to her own room. Having to Other parts of a home share a bed with your mum. It was just degrading. She didn’t tell any of her Most families didn’t have adequate access friends.’ S, 34, Mum to the other component parts of a home (for example a kitchen, living space, The room was their only living space. It bathroom) either. Fifteen of our families had to accommodate the family and their shared a kitchen, for some this was with beds as well as their possessions from as many as twelve other families. Two of their previous home. This left limited space the families interviewed had no access for storing clothes or other essentials. It to kitchen facilities at all and three only left limited room to eat, play or carry out had a kettle or microwave in their room. normal tasks. This meant that very few had access to facilities needed to prepare and store fresh food.

4. Of the families in our investigation, three had to spend a night in a car or on the floors of friends after becoming homeless and being unable to secure some accommodation straight away.

‘This is no place for a child’: the experiences of homeless families in emergency accommodation 6 Three quarters of the families had to Families shared worrying stories about share a toilet and washing facilities. Many other people being able to come and go facilities were poor quality and unsanitary. from their room, even though this was All rated the condition of their bathroom meant to be their only private space. One as poor or inadequate. A range of safety woman returned from the bathroom to find issues were flagged around the bathroom another resident, who had mental health facilities – including unlockable doors, issues, trying to get into her room while broken toilet seats, slippery or cracked her children were sleeping. Many referred tiles and even in one case dangling to the fact that management and cleaners electrical wires and windows that were had keys to access their rooms which overlooked by neighbouring properties. limited their privacy.

‘Every time I go to the toilet it’s disgusting. I ‘My door can be opened at any given found condoms in the toilet, it’s always wet, time. The manager comes in to check my the door to the shower is broken, nappies room all the time. I left the light on one on the floor. So unhygienic. I have to go day and he came in and turned it off. If I with my kids to the shower and the loo. I was sleeping and didn’t hear him knock don’t feel safe them going on their own. then he would enter my room. I don’t The other day a guy slipped and broke his feel like I got the privacy I need. When he leg. I never let my boys go there on their came in to fix my window, my underwear own’ H, 35, Mum drawer was open and there were a whole load of strange men in the room. I felt Safety concerns were also raised around disrespected.’ S, 26, Mum the distance from the bedrooms to bathrooms. For several of the parents Overall sixteen in twenty interviewees interviewed, this was a major concern. said that their room was not secure Bathrooms could be far away from their enough. With this in mind, many families room, sometimes on different floors. This were worried about who they were living meant that parents had to coordinate alongside. Families reported living close trips to the toilet while supervising to people who were fighting, in places their children. They faced the dilemma where the police were frequently called of leaving children unsupervised in and where they regularly found discarded bedrooms, or sacrificing their own privacy drug paraphernalia, condoms or other when bathing or using the toilet. dangerous items.

‘I don’t have a bath here, not only because ‘There’s fighting, drugs and prostitution. I’d [be] more filthy getting out than when There’s always condoms outside the door. I got in but because I wouldn’t be able to Especially in the car park. The other day hear [my son] from where the bathroom is my son was asking what’s that? I said it’s if he woke up and cried. I can’t take him in just rubbish.’ H, 35, Mum there.’ S, 26, Mum Over two thirds of residents said they were concerned about the lack of overall The rest of the accommodation security of the hostel. Some shared stories of people hanging around in communal Homeless families in B&Bs have very little areas who they suspected of being from control over their space. Some people outside the hostel. Others spoke about were not able to control the temperature doors being left unlocked and other lax of their room, meaning that rooms were security measures. too hot or too cold. Living so close to other families meant that they could overhear ‘Every day I get scared…. downstairs conversations and people moving around there’s a door that people leave wide open. their rooms. Disturbances late into the We’re in the middle of the park so anyone night reinforced the feeling for the families can just walk straight in. the worst thing that their space was not their own. is that we don’t know who’s new in here or who doesn’t even live here so it’s like a ‘Some children are still playing at nine and gamble with our lives.’. N, 25, Dad you can hear them jumping on the bed in the room above us’ M, 45, Mum

‘This is no place for a child’: the experiences of homeless families in emergency accommodation 7 The rules of the hostels also underlined Overall, the situation of families in B&Bs the feeling that it was not their home. shows clearly how these families do not Several families were locked out of have anything approaching a ‘home’. Many the accommodation during the day – families were prepared to accommodate some hostels asked residents to vacate bare rooms or limited space. What is more their rooms for cleaning or for other worrying is examples of dangerous or management reasons. There were unsanitary conditions. Not only is the living restrictions on visiting and one family said space cramped and unsuitable, people they had to give 48 hours’ notice and the felt unsafe and vulnerable in their home. phone number and address of where they The next section sets out how this set up were going if they wanted to stay away for impacts on families’ day to day lives. a night.

‘This is no place for a child’: the experiences of homeless families in emergency accommodation 8 Daily life in emergency in breakfast clubs, and often late for registration periods and lessons. Some accommodation went without breakfast to save time for ‘I hated that routine so much. It reminded long commutes and school runs. me, not so much of prison but more of the ‘I get up at 6 in the morning. I don’t set old fashioned days where you had to boil an alarm because I’m already awake all up the water because there was no gas night… plus my window is opposite the boiler, using a bed pan and stuff like that. I entry so if it buzzes or cars park then I can had to really organise myself. You couldn’t hear it. I focus on getting the kids ready for just pop in the bathroom and have a bath.’ school. They don’t have breakfast - they N, 24, Mum get up early and get ready for school.’ H, The major impact of living in a B&B is 35, Mum the length of time it took to undertake Work and daytime hours ordinary, everyday tasks. From getting washed and dressed in the morning, to Restrictions on access to the doing laundry and preparing meals. The accommodation made daytimes more lack of basic facilities, the numbers of complicated. Several families had to people sharing bathrooms or cramped vacate their rooms during the day. For conditions made everyday tasks difficult to families with young children this proved get done. particularly difficult as they had to find ways to occupy their time. Early-Morning ‘I had to leave every day at 10am and had Many of the families woke up early – some to walk around all day with three children.’ as early as 5:30am - either because they J, 34, Mum had to wake up to get children washed and dressed in time to leave for long ‘We had to be out from half past nine until journeys to work and school, or because half past four, everyone had to be out. they were disturbed by other residents. Some days it was raining. We had nowhere Getting ready was more difficult. Families to go.’ D, 21, Mum had to boil water to wash in or go in to bathrooms to bleach the seats before Many had to get to work. We didn’t directly their children used them. It was difficult to ask for people’s work status. However complete basic tasks to get ready. at least twelve of the families we spoke to had one or both parents in work. ‘One day I asked my sons to go downstairs Many discussed how difficult it was to because I wanted to change my clothes balance work with living in the emergency but they got sent back upstairs and told accommodation. They often had long they are not allowed to stay down on commutes on public transport and their own. My son was having to stand struggled with lack of sleep. outside the door waiting for me while I was changing my clothes. The basic things are ‘I was working while we were living there just so stressful’. R, 34, Mum and it was really hard. Trying to stay focused on my daily routines was tough, Because accommodation was often far let alone going to work as well. And away from their previous homes, the then I was trying to be smiley and help school run was longer and journeys more other people while I was at work. It was complicated. Thirteen of the families exhausting.’ F, 30, Mum interviewed had school age children. Ten reported that they had further to Parents highlighted the importance of travel to school than from their previous work – those who had jobs were keen to accommodation. Many children had to maintain them, and those who did not take multiple buses to get to school and were looking to get back into work as journeys were frequently more than one soon as possible. Of the fifteen families hour. Even when leaving early, they often who answered the question, ten said that arrived at school too late to participate living in temporary accommodation had

‘This is no place for a child’: the experiences of homeless families in emergency accommodation 9 a negative or very negative impact on of residents meant it was difficult to gain their ability to work. Three interviewees access to shared kitchens for the time said that they had had to give up their job needed. The lack of access to storage due to the accommodation being too far or access to fridges meant they could away. The need to supervise children at all not prepare fresh, nutritious food. All times, being far from family, the challenge highlighted the high cost of this and also of undertaking basic tasks, finding a new concerns about the health implications of home as well as not knowing where they eating takeaway food. will be living was prohibitive for those looking to enter work. ‘All the time the kitchen is busy. Everyone wants to cook at the same time. I just do Families also found it much harder to something quickly but it’s not healthy and complete simple household chores. A my sons complain because they want big struggle for all of the families was to eat proper food. But I don’t have time washing their clothes. Twelve of the because the kitchen is very busy and very families reported that they had no access dirty.’ R, 34, Mum to laundry facilities in their accommodation – relying instead on family, friends, and Shared kitchens caused other issues. expensive laundrettes. Those who did Families with young children had to bring have access to washing machines spoke them into a hazardous food preparation about how they were also expensive, often environment in order to keep them broken or dirty, or if working were in use supervised. For example as one mother by the other families. of a three and one year old said: ‘trying to cook at the same time as make sure ‘(There is) no washing machine so I have to they’re not getting burnt or hurting go [to the] laundry once a week. I wait for themselves is hard’. Sharing space with my husband and he drops me and picks so many other people led to people me up. It takes a minimum of four hours losing their cooking utensils… and even and it costs a lot of money. Minimum £25 their food. One woman described taking every week.’ M, 45, Mum her children to the bathroom while her pizza was cooking in the oven. When she As well as the need to live in a clean home, returned, her childrens’ pizza was missing. many spoke of how important it was to them to keep up appearances – to keep The majority – 14 – ate as a family on the themselves and their families looking bed or the floor of their room. Very few had clean, smart, and tidy. Not having access space for a table in their bedroom, and to a washing machine was especially many reported there either wasn’t enough difficult for families with young children, space to eat in communal areas or they or when children were unwell. Some had felt uncomfortable doing so. But this felt their sheets washed by the hostel. But if unhygienic, and meant that bedrooms felt this was infrequent, families were left in a even less like a place for rest. difficult position. ‘We’d eat off the bed. Everything was on ‘if one of the kids wets himself in the middle that bed.’ N, 24, Mum of the night I have to try and scrub it out and put them back in the bed and all that Family time pissy washing has to stay in the room A significant issue for many of the families until the end of the week when I can get it is that there was inadequate space and washed.’ L, 24, Mum facilities for children to do their homework. Mealtimes Most of the hostels didn’t have internet access – this made completing homework Mealtimes were difficult in the limited assignments very difficult. There was kitchen space available. Three families limited opportunity for adolescents to find said they mainly had to rely on local quiet space, away from younger children friends and family. This meant families or others in the hostel. Working in the making trips between school, the hostel bedroom often meant there was little room and friends. Only half of the families mainly to spread out and they could be disturbed cooked in the B&B. The sheer number by younger siblings playing. Working

‘This is no place for a child’: the experiences of homeless families in emergency accommodation 10 in communal areas meant that parents stuffing it in the key hole of the door of had to supervise them. They were still the communal toilet. You would be sitting disturbed by other residents. on the toilet and it would suddenly pop back through the door and he’d be stood ‘He needed internet to do his homework outside the door looking through. My but he couldn’t do it. Another reason why daughter was 13 and she was absolutely the school had the hump with me.’ S, 30, petrified. I had to go to the toilet with her Mum and to the shower.’ S, 30, Mum The size of rooms, restrictions on common Bedtime areas and the danger of the environment meant it was difficult for children to find All of the families went to bed early. The places to play or opportunities for young entire family had to go to bed at the children to blow off steam. One mother same time and turn off the light when the showed us the space in her room her youngest child needs to go to sleep. This children have to play in: a space that was means that parents and older children 1 metre by a half meter square. This is have to lie awake in the dark from seven or inadequate for energetic young children: eight pm – struggling to go to sleep.

‘In the room he’s smashed his face on the ‘I used to have time to myself once the bedside table, he smashed his front teeth kids had gone to bed – but now I just have on the sink. he’s jumped off the bed, he’s to lie in the dark. I can’t even look at my tried to climb out the window, the fire door phone or move because it wakes him.’ S, slammed on his fingers. I just keep him in 26, Mum his bed now’ L, 24, Mum ‘My fourteen year old would have the hump Families generally tried to stay out of because she didn’t want to go to bed each other’s way but even if they wanted when the four year old did. But we had to children to play together, families were turn the light out because they needed to limited by hostel rules. This was cited go to sleep.’ S, 30, Mum by one mother as one of the biggest challenges of not having a home you can Eighteen of the families interviewed control: reported that bedtime was now more difficult than it was previously. Further ‘You’re not allowed in each other’s rooms. difficulties were brought about by the If I want to talk to my friend I can’t just noise of other families, children’s anxieties go in her room, I have to call her on her around being in an unfamiliar and stressful mobile and meet her downstairs. Even environment and the disruption to routine. prison isn’t that bad. Our kids play in 1 bed room but it’s not allowed. Sometimes the ‘We don’t really have [a bedtime routine]. hostel managers complain because it’s not My daughter used to have a bath every allowed… it’s very frustrating’ H, 35, Mum night and it was part of her routine before going to sleep, but we don’t have a bath Bath time here, and it’s really affected her bedtime.’ D, 28, Mum Bath time was fraught with difficulties. The poor condition of their bathroom facilities Younger children woke easily at the sound made it hard to ensure children were of movement in the room or outside, kept clean and rested. Several parents and struggled to settle back down. This stated that they take their children to often resulted in the whole family waking family or friends’ houses to wash, rather up through the night or very early in the than bathing them in the emergency morning. accommodation. This made coordinating movements even harder. Having to share ‘They normally went to bed at seven and facilities with so many other families led they’d be asleep by eight, but because of to a lack of privacy and violations which the pub downstairs they weren’t going to affected children and their parents. sleep till eleven o’clock. They were totally shattered. Then they’d have to get up ‘One of the ladies had a son who was early, because we had to get everyone to about 14. I kept getting tissue and school.’ S, 30, Mum

‘This is no place for a child’: the experiences of homeless families in emergency accommodation 11 ‘With the baby, any noise will wake him up to them ‘oh we’re so sorry he’s been sick’ which wakes up our youngest daughter and they told us they wouldn’t wash them. and once she wakes up then everyone is We had to go and get them dry cleaned.’ up.’ N, 25, Dad D, 21, Mum

Difficult days Other families shared stories of having to boil kettles, bleach bathrooms and Raising children and juggling work is inconvenience other residents. One mum, hard enough in this environment when whose son was disabled and incontinent, everything comes together. When a child struggled to keep him clean in a small becomes unwell or a family member is shared bathroom. sick or has to work overtime, it becomes almost impossible. Parents shared stories ‘I couldn’t sit in the toilet with my son at the about being made to take sick family same time, that’s how small it was. I’d have members out of bed and outside the to stand in the hallway to wipe his bum.’ J, hostel while it was closed each day. It was 34, Mum hard to support sick children without your own bathroom or a washing machine. Growing up in emergency accommodation means having to manage to live your life ‘My son got very very ill, so ill that he had in an incomplete, often poor quality and to go to hospital, he was violently sick, cramped environment. This has many really really bad. At one point he was sick impacts. In the final section we set out the all over the bedsheets and we explained main impacts on children and families.

‘This is no place for a child’: the experiences of homeless families in emergency accommodation 12 Impact on children, like this before... It’s so upsetting to watch parents, families and the way he’s changed.’ S, 30, Mum communities This could be very serious. ‘(my daughter) is very withdrawn. She was ‘he became really bad hitting his head on so outgoing before and was above average the wall, biting himself, ripping his hair out. on all her national levels. She was very There was nothing I could do because I bubbly, had lots and lots of friends and couldn’t make the room any bigger.’ J, 34, could talk to anyone. Now she’s withdrawn, Mum she gets quite scared and she’s wetting Many children were fearful of their new the bed. She’d never done any of that. surroundings, and worried that they were She’d been out of nappies since she was going to be separated from their parents. 18 months old and she’s now 7 and she’s The insecurity had a serious effect. wetting the bed. Children were often tearful and clingy, not I feel very guilty about it. I did the right thing wanting even to be in different rooms to but I beat myself up about it all the time. their parents. One parent reported having Health workers were saying that situations to take her child to the toilet, as the child like this can trigger a speech delay like (my would otherwise become very distressed. younger daughter) has. A bit like going ‘They are worried... They are crying, saying through post-traumatic stress in a baby. ‘we don’t want to leave you’. I explained She’s coming up two and doesn’t speak. that that won’t happen.’ M, 34, Mum (My son) was very bad, we had lots of self- harming. This was something that learning mentors reiterated in our conversations. It was heart breaking to watch the impact on my children.’ ‘You can see it in their eyes that somethings not right at home – it always Impact on children turns out to be their housing’ Learning Parents and support workers shared their mentor thoughts on the impact that homelessness Impact on physical health was having on their children, and the children they work with. We have set these Half of all parents reported that their out as impacts on mental health, physical children’s physical health had been health and child development, childhood affected. This included bedbug bites, and education and school. fatigue or picking up illnesses going around the hostel. Long travel times and Impact on mental health early starts, both from travelling to family and friends’ homes or school, as well as Seventeen of the parents interviewed felt being kept awake means it is unsurprising that their children’s mental health had that a major impact is that children are been affected by living in emergency more tired. accommodation. Many parents reported issues with anxiety in particular. Children’s ‘They’re much more tired since living there. distress was not only due to the trauma She was tired having to get up early to of losing their home, but also from being travel into school. Then coming home late. placed in unsettled and unsuitable There was nowhere to chill out and relax. emergency accommodation. Every day was the same. Just confined to the room.’ S, 34, Mum ‘My six year old has been going to the doctors because he’s developed a nervous Sixteen of the families we interviewed tick since we’ve been in that room. He stated that it was very true that their was constantly nervous all the time. He’s children were more tired since living in so unsettled still and he knows that we’re the emergency accommodation. Several still not settled. He’s really anxious. He’s reported that their children had become become violent to his little sister and he distressed and tearful due to tiredness. was never like that before.... He was never

‘This is no place for a child’: the experiences of homeless families in emergency accommodation 13 ‘They are so tired. My older one cries all Many families brought up that their the time. I say “Why are you crying?” and children were sad they could no longer he won’t say. He just cries. This morning he invite anyone over or have sleepovers. was on the bus and he just started crying, Others noticed that children were they weren’t like that before. They switch ashamed of their living situation and moods so fast.’ H, 35, Mum concealing it from their friends.

Anxiety and stress also had physical ‘The other day I heard his brother saying impacts on children. “don’t tell [his friend] that you live in a hostel’. H, 35, Mum ‘The little one is 4 and she broke out in scabs all over her hands and face…. the Learning mentors shared stories of doctor said it was a stress disorder that devastated children crying when they or kids get…. a rare form of eczema. She’s their classmates moves away. They also never suffered from eczema before. As showed how children that had to move soon as we moved out of the B&B it away from schools missed out on fun cleared up and she hasn’t had it again. It childhood experiences. As one of the came on after only a week.’ S, 30, Mum learning mentors described, Impact on child development ‘We’ve had children that have got a part in the school play that they then can’t take Many parents, especially those with it…. we’ve got some kung fu certificates younger children, reported that their child’s from last year that we haven’t been able to personal development was affected. This hand out because the family have moved’ ranged from speech, toilet training and Learning mentor bed wetting, to setbacks in learning to walk. This was affected by anxiety but also A further impact on childhood was a loss because it was also difficult for parents of safety and security. Some parents said to establish routines in the often-chaotic they were worried that their children were surroundings. worried about them, and felt that they had to try and ‘look after’ their parents ‘Her development was very affected by as much as possible. This was reiterated all the moving. I kept having to stop start by learning mentors as something they potty training because we kept moving. experienced with a number of children, Her development, like her speech was also including some as young as seven who felt affected. She’d say a few things but she’s they needed to support and care for their kept the same vocab since last year.’ N, 24, parents throughout their experiences of Mum homelessness.

Young children are resilient and it is ‘We took one child who is in temporary unclear what the longer-term impact would accommodation, on a residential for be. But it is clear that parents were very 3 nights, 4 days, and he spent a huge worried it has had significant impact in the amount of time worrying about how his short-term. mum would be coping without him, that ‘A health visitor said it was affecting (son)’s was his main worry. So some children were development. He didn’t walk because worried because they miss their parents, when we moved in he was still crawling he was actually quite worried about how and there was no space here. She said it his mother would be coping.’ Learning set him back because when I was in my mentor flat we were able to move around but when Living in emergency accommodation we got here he had to stay in a cot. L, 24, meant that children had to witness things Mum that their parents didn’t want them to see. Impact on childhood Half of parents said that their children have seen things they shouldn’t. Children had One of the strongest impacts was that seen their parents be physically attacked children were missing out on childhood. by other residents, had been spied on by Parents reported that losing their home other residents and witnessed many scary was affecting their children’s friendships. incidents.

‘This is no place for a child’: the experiences of homeless families in emergency accommodation 14 ‘There’s a lot [of] drugs and I don’t want Learning mentors confirmed the impact my kids seeing that… One time he said that homelessness had on children in their ‘mummy I heard a woman on the phone school. Tiredness, long commutes, lack of saying ‘I’m going to set fire to your face’’ space and poor sleep all took their toll. If She was saying these things and my children missed the start of lessons they son was hearing it. I was so upset and were thrown for the rest of the session. shocked. I don’t want my son to hear this sort of stuff. I didn’t know what to answer. Many of the parents spoke of the He was scared.’ H, 35, Mum importance of continuity of education and wanted to avoid children having to change The extent of this impact on childhood was schools, particularly as they didn’t know shown by learning mentors who compared where they would be living in a week’s the experiences of children in temporary time. Some spoke of schools being a accommodation with other children in their central source of support, both social school and across the country. and practical. But it was clear that some parents were upset that their situation had ‘There was this whole thing around ten led to an antagonistic relationship with things every child should do before their school bureaucracy. They felt ashamed to ten or something, and it’s a lovely idea, be placing their children in this situation lovely, but some children aren’t even close and ruining an otherwise positive and to that’ Learning mentor important relationship with their child’s teachers. ‘I’ve had children who don’t want it to be the weekend. I’ve had children who are ‘My son was doing SATs and I was really really devastated when school holidays worried, the school was really on my case. come. Its such a contrast with other It was like they were annoyed with me, children. The hardest thing is those like it was my fault that I’d put them in this children I cant reassure, I daren’t reassure situation. They put so much pressure on them that they’ll be coming back over the me. I felt so terrible saying it was because holidays. That’s hard.’ Learning mentor of me. What could I do about it - I was Impact on education and school trying my best to get them out of there.’ S, 30, Mum Lack of sleep, exhaustion and worry appeared to impact the children’s Our interviews with learning mentors educational attainment. More than half demonstrate that impacts happened of the families interviewed felt that their both ways. Schools felt they had to children’s education or development had provide social services to families whose been affected by the time they had spent otherwise normal lives had been thrown in emergency accommodation. One parent into chaos by homelessness. Although not reported her daughter going down a set possible to verify, it was striking that most at school ‘because she was so tired’. of the learning mentors we spoke to felt Others were particularly badly affected they were seeing an increase in parents as the period of upheaval and uncertainty having difficulties including among families happened at important times for their they assumed would be able to cope. education or big exams. ‘It’s really increased - and changed. A ‘It affected her schoolwork big time. She’d couple of years ago, an eviction was huge. started her GCSEs and had nowhere to do It was if the family hadn’t been paying the her homework or her studying. Her school rent. This is a new thing. These are people work really suffered.’ S, 34, Mum that work, as cleaners, that work in coffee shops, security guards you know, where Even relatively brief stays in emergency are these people meant to be living?’ accommodation had a significant impact Learning mentor on children’s education. Schools had to take on a completely ‘Their education was put on hold. My different role outside of education. They daughter was ahead on everything in her had to provide emotional support to class and she just went behind during children who were distracted by tiredness those two weeks.’ S, 30, Mum and worry. They also provided basic social

‘This is no place for a child’: the experiences of homeless families in emergency accommodation 15 support like hot meals, warm clothes ‘It’s affected me horrendously. Normally and space for children who couldn’t I cope with things quite well but this time concentrate in lessons to nap during I didn’t ... because it wasn’t something I breaks. They also provided a source of could solve, that’s why it hit me so badly.’ stability and support for parents who S, 50, Mum needed time away from children to sort out their situation. At the same time, ‘You don’t really feel up to doing much, I schools felt unequipped to take on this didn’t care about eating well for myself. For role. Particularly when faced with helping me, it just didn’t matter, even brushing my families navigate complex legal structures teeth became a challenge. It was a horrible and unclear demands that were so time.’ F, 30, Mum important to the family’s situation. Many of the interviewees shared how hard ‘They were getting these letters that said it was to raise their children in the way they if you don’t respond to this letter within 24 wanted. Many families reported feelings of hours we will take it that you’ve decided guilt and distress for any negative impacts under section whatever, whatever, and he on their children. Families that had taken was sitting there going what’s this, and I’m all possible steps to prevent the loss of reading it and I had to say do you mind if their home still felt a sense of personal I show it to someone else in the office… responsibility. Even those who had fled because I didn’t want to give them the violence shared doubts about whether wrong advice. And I’m not an expert in they made the right step to leave an housing, but it’s such a huge huge thing’ abusive partner. Learning mentor ‘It’s harder when you’re a family as you just Impacts on parents feel that you’re not looking after your child properly. The way it makes you feel, I did Living in emergency accommodation and get really, really bad’ D, 21, Mum trying to do the best for their children also took its toll on parents. Eighteen out Eighteen out of twenty parents of twenty parents interviewed said that interviewed said that living in emergency their or their partner’s physical health was accommodation impacted their emotional affected by living in the accommodation. wellbeing. All stressed that it was harder Several parents reported injuries or back than they thought, or than other people pain, skin conditions such as psoriasis could understand. For example, when brought on by stress, issues around asked – what is the one thing you would nutrition and illness related to cold and want people to know about the experience damp conditions. Many suffered from you have had: One mother said – the consequences of being unable to eat ‘It not just a roof over your head. I had this well. Problems ranged from poor nutrition, conversation with a friend: she was saying to more serious health problems. Some ‘stop moaning - you’ve got somewhere to were adamant that their stay in emergency live’ but you don’t realise the emotional and accommodation was to blame. physical affect it has had on me and more ‘Being in the B&Bs had a direct effect on importantly the kids. It’s not fair on them at my health... I’ve had one thing after another all’ S, 30, Mum with my health and it’s all been because of Impact on families this one situation.’ N, 34, Mum Living in emergency accommodation had Half of parents interviewed stated that a significant impact on relationships – both their or their partner’s mental health was with partners and with children. Parents affected during their time in the emergency reported arguments and frustration as a accommodation. Anxiety and depression result of being ‘cooped up’. Many parents were often mentioned. Many spoke of also spoke of the need to put on a brave feelings of despair due to their lack of face, and appear strong for their children. control over the situation.

‘This is no place for a child’: the experiences of homeless families in emergency accommodation 16 Maintaining a normal relationship was Christmas came up in many interviews. impossible. Two of the families we spoke to had spent last Christmas in a B&B. Families worked ‘If you got a husband, you can’t be close hard to give their children a fun day. But together when you’re living like this. It’s not there was a sense that a fun and cosy, good for us or our relationship.’ M, 45, Mum family orientated season threw their living situation into even sharper relief. The lack of space impacted families in other ways. Living in a small space meant ‘We woke up there on Christmas morning they had no privacy from each other. Many as well which was even worse. That was raised problems like parents and siblings horrible. We just kind of woke up, opened having to change clothes in front of each our presents there then went over to my other and teenage girls embarrassed friend’s house and didn’t go back there at having to share a bed with relatives until the evening again.’ S, 34, Mum (including brothers and fathers) when menstruating. Parents said their living Others spoke about hoping they were in arrangements made disciplining children more settled home before this Christmas. almost impossible as there was no way of removing them from the room. Privacy ‘Christmas is coming and I’m spending it was a major issue, with seventeen of the in this room… We just got to sit like ducks parents agreeing that they did not have and wait… it’s a horrible feeling’ L, 24, the level of privacy needed for family life. Mum When asked this question, one respondent answered:

‘No, not at all - it’s hard … And then there is stuff when I have my period, it was hard sharing a bed [with my son] and being in the same room.’ N, 42, Mum

‘This is no place for a child’: the experiences of homeless families in emergency accommodation 17 CONCLUSION

This research shows that emergency ‘Just having a home, having a bath, a accommodation is no place for a child. washing machine!’ D, 28, Mum Yet, as the housing crisis bites deeper, more and more children are again forced ‘Sitting down with both my girls, and my to grow up in this environment. Parents husband, and just sitting there. Just sitting. that we spoke to described many difficult Somewhere we can all be where we can and upsetting stories: open our front door and say, this is mine, no-one can take it. Letting my daughter ■■ Trying to eat healthily with no fridge, have a friend round, like she used to, letting no cupboards and no cooking facilities her go out like she used to. She’s become very reclusive and doesn’t like going out, ■■ Having to leave the accommodation she’s ashamed.’ S, 45, Mum during the day – and walk around in the rain with young children This need is so simple to meet. But this situation will not improve until we deal ■■ The entire family having to go to sleep with the reasons why so many families are with the youngest children at 8pm homeless and can support those who are and waking through the night due to in such damaging situations. shared beds and noise inside and outside the hostel Why are there homeless ■■ Teenage children peered at by other children? residents while showering The main reason that so many children are ■■ Parents’ concerned that children’s homeless is because of the shortage of development was affected – including affordable housing. England is particularly children wetting the bed and having badly affected. Only half of the 250,000 delayed speech and walking homes we need each year are built – and the majority of these are set for sale at ■■ Exhausted children falling behind at market rates. The shrinking social rented school and missing out on friendships sector and increasing property prices are and fun activities pushing more and more families into the unstable private rented sector. ■■ Children worried about their parents, and not wanting to leave their sight The end of a private tenancy - known as an assured shorthold tenancy (AST) - is ■■ Families who had fled violence now the leading immediate trigger of wondering if they had done the right homelessness in England5. The majority thing by leaving, given the negative of the families we interviewed cited this effect on their children. as the reason they lost their home, this The parents we interviewed were grateful included the landlord wanting to sell their for the support they have. But they craved home, or their one year tenancy coming to stability and normality. When asked an end and the landlord wanting to renew6. what they were most looking forward Some of the families we interviewed to once they found a settled home, appear to have been homeless because interviewees listed everyday activities. the landlord acted unlawfully. However, They emphasised the importance of home the majority acted well within their rights. as a place of safety and normality. The private rented sector is unstable, and families can be asked to move out of

5. See DCLG, ‘Live tables on homelessness’ 6. Other families had had to leave after staying with friends or family and some had left situations of domestic violence.

‘This is no place for a child’: the experiences of homeless families in emergency accommodation 18 their home with just one months’ notice. Overall, the lack of affordable homes, Increased demand has meant that rent instability in the private rented sector and costs have been spiralling upwards as the lack of an adequate safety net are landlords let their properties to the highest resulting in families struggling to keep a bidder. This causes issues for many roof over their head. families. Notably, as is the case for parents such as D below, some can afford to pay What can fix this? ongoing rent on a monthly basis but do not have the ability to find the large amounts Ultimately, this situation will not improve of cash needed to put down a deposit and until we deal with Britain’s chronic six weeks’ rent to start a new tenancy. shortage of affordable homes. The government needs to build thousands ‘[Our] landlord wanted to sell the flat we more homes that are truly affordable and were privately renting and we couldn’t stable for families on low and average afford another £2500 (to put a deposit incomes, including low cost rented homes. down) to rent again, we just didn’t have the To do this we need a land market that’s money. I work but I don’t earn that much.’ efficient, transparent and stable and a D, 21, Mum diverse house building sector, which makes it easier for new and smaller Reforms to social security, such as builders to break into the market. We need lowering the benefit cap and freezing Local public and private investment in affordable Housing Allowance rates, have cut away at housing and to give local authorities the safety net that families on low incomes more power by removing barriers to can use to stay in their homes and avoid development and linking infrastructure homelessness while they look for work spending with house building in order to or shop around for a cheaper property. meet local needs8. The Ministry of Justice has reported a marked growth in bailiff evictions from We also need to introduce more stability rented properties over the last few years7. into the private rented sector, so families This suggests that an increasing number can find a secure home to raise their of families are not able to find new children. And to build a safety net that accommodation when asked to leave by is fit for purpose, so that losing your their landlord and are instead reaching the job, or seeing your rent rise, doesn’t traumatic point of eviction before turning automatically mean losing your home. This to the council for help. includes ensuring that local authorities are adequately funded to provide suitable ‘Your whole life crumbles around you. Your temporary accommodation for families whole world. You’re worried about your when the worst does happen. children. I was worried about everything. I can’t put into words, because there In the meantime, we need to assist families aren’t any words. Shock, disbelief, terror. who are currently homeless to find a Everything, it is your worst nightmare come stable place to live, or those on the edge true – someone coming in and locking your of homelessness. Councils had provided front door so you can’t go back in there. some assistance to the families we spoke Seeing your child sobbing.’ S, 45, Mum to. Many parents found it hard to find a stable home. The used whatever free Our depleted safety net is also preventing time they could to find a new home. For homeless families getting back on their example, some learning mentors said they feet. Some families we spoke to about offered to supervise children before and trying to find a settled home said that they after school while their parents tried to sort hadn’t been able to find a private landlord out their housing issues. Housing law is who would accept housing benefit, even if complicated and the housing market tricky they were working. to navigate. The importance of having the

7. Ministry of Justice, ‘Mortgage and landlord possession statistics: April to June 2015’: https://www.gov.uk/government/ statistics/mortgage-and-landlord-possession-statistics-april-to-june-2015 8. See more about the shortage of affordable homes in Great Britain and the things that the government can do to fix it here: http://thehomesweneed.org.uk/

‘This is no place for a child’: the experiences of homeless families in emergency accommodation 19 support of a trained professional was clear made them feel less alone, and resulted in from our interviews. positive change.

‘There are no options. It’s like a trap. We ‘I just felt ill the whole time I was there. My are stuck in here. We need someone to family kept saying ‘you look really sick.’ It pull us out.’ H, 35, Mum was only when Shelter helped me that I felt remotely better.’ S, 30, Mum Shelter help millions of people facing bad housing and homelessness each year. Our ‘Ian helped me through a lot. He was just helpline is open every day and our face there for me. He always said if you want to face support services alone, help over to talk about anything just call me, even if 60,000 people each year. We offered to you want to just talk about what’s going put all of the families we spoke to in touch on… he really did help… from the minute with a Shelter advisor and told learning I first spoke to him to the last session… If I mentors about our services. Learning hadn’t gone to Shelter I think we’d still be in mentors were relieved to know there was a B&B.’ D, 21, Mum someone they could send parents to for help. There is so much that can be done to help families in emergency accommodation At the time of the interview, some of the to realise their dream of a settled home. families were now living in more settled And much more that can be done to accommodation after previous contact help families that are struggling with their with Shelter. They shared the difference it housing. We need to act now, to ensure had made to them to have someone to talk that by next Christmas, there are less to, to explain their rights and to advocate families living in this way, rather than even on their behalf. This reassured them, more.

‘This is no place for a child’: the experiences of homeless families in emergency accommodation 20 Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling (SC002327) Scotland in (263710) and Wales and England in charity Registered RH7962. with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own. Please support us at shelter.org.uk

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