The latest homelessness data figures from the Department of Housing are expected to reach over the unprecedented milestone of 5,000 (almost double the number five years ago). The children’s charity is calling on the Government to take urgent steps to protect these children and mitigate the harm children may suffer from entering and living in emergency accommodation.

Barnardos provides support services from 56 locations across the country. Approximately one in five (18%) children the charity supports live in unsuitable accommodation. Their intensive family support services work with families and children in emergency accommodation. Barnardos provides families with practical help and give them tools to keep themselves regulated. Simultaneously, Barnardos helps these families build coping mechanisms to deal with the stress and trauma resulting from being homeless. Barnardos frontline staff are reporting housing as a substantial issue for the families they support – they have told us the issue is getting worse and is greatly affecting the wellbeing of children and their future opportunities.

Stephen Moffatt – Barnardos National Policy Manager said: “This briefing includes the direct experiences children and families across our services are facing, the impact it is having on them, and the real damage it is having on their childhoods and futures. Care has been taken to anonymise these experiences.  

We spoke directly to families with experience of emergency accommodation and staff supporting them across our services over the past 18 months.

The Government must:

• Ensure local authorities always take into account best interests of children when housing families in emergency accommodation.
• Improve minimum acceptable standards of emergency accommodation for children.
• Increase rates of Housing Assistance Payments – The maximum rent limit on HAP properties should be increased in Budget 2026 to realistically reflect increases in market rents.
• Guarantee all children moving to emergency accommodation and their family are offered intensive trauma informed family support.