‘My kids face growing up in temporary accommodation’

Laura Neilson, chief executive of the Shared Health Foundation, said she had never seen such high demand for temporary accommodation.

The charity, based in Oldham, helps families living in temporary accommodation with basics such as baby cots, beds and nappies as well offering counselling and advocacy advice.

She said her organisation was dealing with families who were never expecting to be in this situation.

“It can happen to anyone,” she said. “If you lose your job, have a relationship breakdown or your landlord gives you an eviction notice or puts up your rent.”

She said the foundation was seeing “real problems with damp, mould, rats and cockroach infestations and safety” in many of the properties used for temporary accommodation.

Dr Neilson said being homeless had a big impact on children’s lives – disrupting their schooling and relationships, and can even result in bed-wetting, speech problems and delayed walking.

She said some children dropped out of school because it was too far to travel, or there were no school places available.

Dr Neilson said “more social housing” and decent landlords were needed to help tackle the crisis.