Every child should have the right to live in a safe home and protective environment, but according to the Generation Homeless report, 135,000 children are currently homeless in Britain.
Many homeless children and their families live in temporary accommodations, such as B&Bs and hostels — often low-quality places where an entire family stays in only one room. A Child in the City article, for example, writes about the living conditions of Will, a 10-year-old boy, who lives in one room with his parents and brother. They have no privacy; it is impossible to study and they are often not allowed to play. In September, they thought they wouldn't stay there longer than 6 weeks, but they are still there.
The report also claims that the highest concentrations of homeless children are in Luton, Brighton & Hove, and Manchester. It also highlights that in Britain a child loses their home every eight minutes, which is a total of 183 children per day. Polly Neate, chief executive of the homeless charity, Shelter, emphasizes these figures are 'sharp reminders that political promises about tackling homelessness must be turned into real action'.