Homeless people stuck in limbo as affordable rents remain out of reach
2 years ago | 6 comments
IKEA and Shelter unveil Dollhouse highlighting realities of temporary accommodation
12:01 AM, 20th September 2024, 2 years ago
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IKEA and Shelter have teamed up to reveal a children’s dollhouse designed to illustrate the realities faced by children living in temporary accommodation.
The housing charity claims that “rising evictions and sky-high rents are forcing more families into homelessness and temporary accommodation”.
Alongside the launch of the ‘Unwelcome Dollhouse,’ Shelter and IKEA have issued an open letter urging the government to commit to building 90,000 social rent homes each year for the next decade.
Inadequate access to basic facilities
According to the government, 151,630 children are currently homeless in temporary accommodation, the highest number since records began in 2004.
The housing charity says many children living in temporary accommodation are forced to live with mouldy walls, and dangerous wiring.
According to Shelter, one in five (21%) experienced a safety hazard, such as faulty wiring or fire risks. More than two-thirds (68%) of people have inadequate access to basic facilities, such as cooking or laundry facilities.
More than one in three (35%) parents said their children don’t even have their own bed.
Temporary accommodation is truly horrifying
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “Temporary accommodation truly is horrifying, with families crammed into emergency hostels and grotty B&Bs often miles away from their schools and jobs.
“Through our partnership with IKEA, we’re showing the grim reality facing the one in 78 children growing up homeless in this country, from being forced to share beds with their siblings, or bathrooms with strangers, to dangerous and damp conditions.
“With rents at a record high, evictions rising and so few social homes available, we desperately need government action. The only way to help families into a safe and secure home and end homelessness is to build genuinely affordable social homes – we need 90,000 a year for ten years.”
The Unwelcome Dollhouse will be on display in three IKEA stores this week and will show the cramped and unfit spaces that people experience when living in a temporary home.
Tags:
affordable housing, children’s housing conditions, homelessness awareness, housing crisis, IKEA dollhouse, Shelter partnership, social rent homes, temporary accommodation, temporary housing realities, Unwelcome Dollhouse
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Member Since March 2015 - Comments: 120
10:55 AM, 20th September 2024, About 2 years ago
Instead of playing around with Ikea dolls houses, perhaps Polly Neate should be advising the government and local authorities on how they need to be building more houses (and to be managing the ones they already have) and to stop slamming the PRS or is she now helping with the Swedish housing crisis as well?
Member Since August 2021 - Comments: 307 - Articles: 1
11:35 AM, 20th September 2024, About 2 years ago
Hmm, what a stunt.
Why can Shelter only celebrate the negative?
Housing standards and energy efficiency have steady improved over the years.
Higher interest costs, and repeated tax raids have reduced landlord’s profitability. This reduces the funds that landlords have available for maintenance and proactive improvements, never mind the disincentive to invest further funds into the sector.
All stick, no carrot = landlords selling up
Economics 101, less supply + growing demand = higher prices for a scarce resource.
Never mind, they can keep dreaming that the build to rent sector can magic up replacement homes and will be willing to rent them to those with less than perfect references.
Member Since February 2016 - Comments: 1056
1:19 PM, 20th September 2024, About 2 years ago
I wonder what local authorities think about Shelter highlighting the fact that they are placing families in unsafe accommodation with faulty wiring, mould and extreme overcrowding. Just think of the horrendous fines these same authorities would be legitimately imposing on private landlords who let out similar property.
Member Since June 2019 - Comments: 761
3:17 PM, 20th September 2024, About 2 years ago
Come on folks give Shelter a break – look they bought a house, OK it’s a bit compact but it is a start. Maybe with enough encouragement they could buy a studio flat!
Member Since December 2023 - Comments: 1575
7:55 AM, 21st September 2024, About 2 years ago
This is a great stunt.
It demonstrates, very clearly, the impact of a failed immigration policy.
Well done Shelter (who don’t provide shelter to anyone and IKEA.
Member Since November 2016 - Comments: 227
9:40 AM, 21st September 2024, About 2 years ago
Difficult to get a bad tenant out, difficult to get out of Ikea.
Member Since October 2022 - Comments: 58
12:03 PM, 21st September 2024, About 2 years ago
IKEA – stay out of politics, less HMO providers stop buying furniture from you.
Member Since July 2024 - Comments: 112
7:47 PM, 22nd September 2024, About 2 years ago
This is hysterical… Tenants according to a recent Poll, not that us landlords/ ladies need to see the Poll.. tenants are responsible for mould.. then they complain, dob us in and get evicted to live in Government provided mould. Where did I put that tiny voilin again?