Records show that the levels of child homelessness in Haringey are 60% higher than the London borough average, reports Miriam Balanescu

An investigation into the number of children experiencing homelessness by Haringey Community Press has found that
thousands are living in temporary accommodation in the borough.

Data shared with HCP in response to a request under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act reveal that, as of May 2023, 3,794 children are housed in temporary accommodation (TA) by Haringey Council. This figure makes up 6.34% of a total 59,800 children living in the borough, as recorded in the 2021 Census.

189 children are in households offered relief duty by the council — meaning the authority is satisfied that the applicant household is eligible for assistance and occupants are moved to interim accommodation — while the council is working to prevent the homelessness of 245 children. 82 children have had their main housing duty accepted by the council but are not living in TA.

Child homelessness has risen to alarming levels in the capital, with boroughs warning that one in every 23 children is homeless. According to London Councils’ data collected in November and December 2022, this totals a staggering 81,000 children — Haringey’s children con- tribute 5% of this figure. London Councils also found only 4.2% of London properties are affordable to residents on housing benefit, with the rate having been frozen for three years.

Darren Rodwell, London Councils’ executive member for regener- ation, housing and planning, said: “The toxic combination of cost-of- living pressures and the chronic shortage of affordable housing means more and more Londoners
– especially families with kids – are ending up homeless.

“The chancellor must use the budget to boost support for struggling households and to help us deliver the affordable homes London’s communities are desperate to see.”

The number living in TA in London has increased by 66% since 2010, with many often housed in bed and breakfast hotel accommodation – up by 25% compared to December 2021. Data shows boroughs are collectively spending £50million per month to house those eligible for assistance.

The total number of homeless children in Haringey (4,074) is 60% above the London borough average of 2,531, meaning that the crisis is even worse in Haringey.

The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (Acorn), which has recently founded a Haringey branch, is an activist group who support residents with housing issues. They say they regularly come into contact with Haringey families with children forced to live in TA.

Fredi Gentz, Acorn organiser, commented: “These figures are appalling and shameful, but not surprising. We’re approached regularly by families really struggling in often overcrowded hostels or hotels, it’s clear that the housing system in Haringey is broken.

“The council can help individual cases, but fundamentally we need more council housing, more support for low-income families in housing, and most importantly rent freezes and eviction-bans. That’s what Acorn will be fighting for across Haringey and across the UK.”

A spokesperson from Haringey Housing Action group commented: “We know that the true number of homeless families
is likely to be much higher. In our experience, Haringey Council routinely gatekeep homeless people and try to deter them from making applications.

“When people have their homeless application accepted, families are kept for far too long in hostels facilities. People with children can only legally be forced to share facilities for a maximum of six weeks before being moved to self-contained accommodation. But there’s a loophole in this law: it only applies to privately owned hostels […] So, Haringey takes advantage of this by placing homeless families in council-run hostels with no time limit.

“Since the Localism Act came into force, the council has had the power to force homeless households into the private sector […] The housing register list is so long that people in TA are often left waiting ten to 15 years before they have any chance of winning a [social housing] bid. But now, people who have been in TA for ten plus years are being threatened
with discharge into the private sector.

“We want [the council] to reduce homelessness by building more social housing.”

Sarah Williams, cabinet member for housing services, private renters and planning, said in response to these figures: “I share your concerns regarding the number of children living in temporary accommodation across London, however it is too simplistic to simply average the number of children living in temporary accommodation across all 32 London boroughs as this statistic fails to take into account local factors such as overall demand for homelessness services and
local deprivation.

“Haringey is one of the top four London boroughs in terms of demand for homelessness assistance; last year we received over 4,500 applications, whereas some London boroughs assess one or two cases per month.

“I recognise that temporary accommodation is far from ideal, especially for households with children. We continue to lobby government as part of the London Councils group for an overall increase in local housing allowance rates and an
increase in discretionary housing payment funding, as well as continuing with our commitment to build thousands of new council homes.”

Catherine West MP said: “No child should grow up without a place to call home. These shameful figures are a damning indictment of thirteen years of Conservative failure to build the council housing we need, failure to increase security for private renters, and failure to help struggling families through this cost-of-living crisis. Housing costs are going through the roof and more families will lose their homes unless the Government acts. Yet they chose to prioritise a tax cut for the richest 1% over help for families on the edge.”

David Lammy MP added: “The distressing revelation that Haringey’s levels of child homelessness exceed the average in our capital demands urgent attention. It is an alarming reflection of a broader trend that must not be ignored.

“Every child deserves the fundamental right to a stable, secure, and nurturing home. Labour will take real action to protect tenants and ensure that ‘no fault’ evictions are abolished, address Tory mishandling of schools and local government and urgently act to tackle the housing crisis. We cannot let vulnerable children and young people slip through the cracks.”

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