Government unveils new rules for children in temporary accommodation

Councils will now be required to inform schools and GP practices when a child is placed in temporary accommodation.

Councils across England will also receive a share of £1 million in funding to help cover the operational costs of implementing the changes.

The news comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham has unveiled plans to offer every rough sleeper in England accommodation this winter.

Duty to inform when a child is homeless

Homelessness Minister, Florence Eshalomi, said: “I know first-hand the uncertainty and upheaval that comes with not having a place to truly call home. For the thousands of children living in temporary accommodation, I know how much it can impact their school life, their ability to form lasting relationships and their sense of belonging.

“We’ve made clear that councils have a responsibility to place families in suitable, quality housing and from today, this will be matched with a new duty to inform education and health services when a child is homeless.

“This is a major milestone. Crucially, it means schools, GPs and councils all talking to each other about the vulnerable children in their community, ensuring vital support services are wrapped around them at the earliest opportunity and reducing the number of children falling through the cracks.”

Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza added: “Every child deserves a safe, stable home and the opportunity to thrive, wherever they live. Children often fall through the gaps between services when they move between homes or move into temporary accommodation and face disruption to their education, healthcare and wider wellbeing.

“This new duty on local authorities is an important step towards making sure schools and health services know when a child moves into temporary accommodation, so they can put the right support in place”.

£30 million in funding

The government has also announced £30 million in funding to reduce councils’ reliance on B&Bs and improve the quality, suitability and long-term supply of temporary accommodation.

The news comes as figures from the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) reveal that 3,959 people were sleeping rough in London between April and June this year.

While this represents a 10% decrease compared with the same quarter last year, the number is still 53% higher than five years ago and has risen by 47% over the past decade.