According to inquiries into the deaths of children over a span of four years, temporary residing arrangements have led to the passing of numerous infants in England.
According to official reviewers, living in temporary accommodation was a contributing factor to the unexpected deaths of 55 children, with 42 of them being under the age of one. This was deemed “shocking” by members of parliament and the government.
Shortage of social housing and high private rents have resulted in councils turning to temporary accommodations such as bed and breakfasts, hostels, and temporary housing. These places, often damp, cold, and overcrowded, serve as a temporary solution for those in need.
On Monday, ITV News was the first to report the data, which was analyzed by the national child mortality database. This database collects information from healthcare professionals, social workers, and other officials who come together in cases of child death.
“The fact that children are losing their lives due to the living conditions they are provided with is startling, especially in a country ranked as the fifth-largest economy,” expressed Siobhain McDonagh, leader of the bipartisan panel on temporary housing.
“We cannot accept that … councils are under extraordinary pressure. They have an ever-growing list of homeless families waiting for accommodation and an ever-smaller pool of housing to put them in. That means councils are forced to house people in inhumane conditions.
“I have observed living conditions that are unacceptable for anyone, especially a child. It is like the untamed western frontier.”
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ representative called the results “completely alarming,” and stated, “We have made it clear to councils that all temporary housing must meet safety regulations and be suitable for families with infants, including having enough room for a crib. We will keep collaborating with parliamentarians and councils regarding this significant matter.”
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The officials did not specify which factors of the temporary living arrangements were believed to have led to the deaths. After investigation, a coroner determined that dampness and mold were responsible for the passing of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in a Rochdale government housing apartment in December 2020.
A recent article from The Guardian shared the story of a mother living in a moist and moldy social housing apartment in Lewisham, located in south-east London. The mother was contemplating placing her six-year-old son in a care facility due to her mounting concerns over his deteriorating health, which included difficulty breathing.
In a different instance, a mother with four children who were living in temporary housing in east London had to struggle for several months to leave a home where thirteen individuals shared one bathroom. The family had a child with disabilities and there was mold present in one of the bedrooms.
“It is heartbreaking that numerous children are forced to reside in temporary housing,” said Darren Rodwell, the representative for local government housing at the Local Government Association.
“In the previous year, local governments devoted 1.74 billion pounds to assist 104,000 families in temporary living arrangements, marking the highest numbers on record. The most effective solution to this problem is to tackle the scarcity of adequate housing nationwide and increase the supply of social housing in council holdings.”
Source: theguardian.com
