Hundreds of homeless children are likely to be spending Christmas in Merseyside's bed and breakfasts, hostels and other emergency housing.
National housing charity Shelter issued the warning as the most recent figures show 362 children in our area were
Trends suggest the figure will be roughly the same or even higher by the end of 2019.
The charity is calling on the public to support its urgent Christmas appeal - to give families the vital helpline advice and services they need in order to keep their homes over the festive period.
Are you and your family facing homelessness this Christmas or do you know someone who is? Email liam.thorp@reachplc.com or call 0151 330 5042
Some 90 of these homeless families are currently being put up in B&Bs and hostels - often with
The impacts of homelessness on children and young people can be extreme and extensive.
Living in temporary accommodation or sofa-surfing often means constant insecurity and disruption to families’ daily lives.
Homelessness particularly affects children and young people’s mental health and education.
Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said: “This should shock us and move us all to act. It’s an indictment of the child homelessness which austerity is causing.
“The current Government should not have scrapped the target to end child poverty by 2020. It’s a national disgrace that 1.5 million children are forecast to fall into poverty between 2010 and 2020/21.
“With 67% of children in poverty living with at least one adult who works, the pretence that employment is currently a route out of poverty does not hold up.
“An incoming Government must promise serious and immediate improvements to the tax and social security system.
“We know how to end child poverty and so the scale of the distress faced by homeless children is terrible to witness.
“Teachers want urgent action for the families they support.”
Nationally, Shelter predict that a staggering 135,000 children will be homeless and living in temporary accommodation across Britain on Christmas day.
Their report estimates that a child becomes homeless every eight minutes, or 183 children a day.
That’s enough children to fill 2.5 double-decker buses - every day.
The number of homeless children living in temporary accommodation has increased by 51% over the last five years.
The report also shines a light on the 5,683 homeless families with children in Britain currently living in emergency B&Bs and hostels - widely considered the worst type of accommodation.
Again, that number is up 11% since 2014.
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “The fact 183 children become homeless every day is a scandalous figure and sharp reminder that political promises about tackling homelessness must be turned into real action.
“Day in, day out we see the devastating impact the housing emergency is having on children across the country. They are being uprooted from friends; living in cold, cramped B&Bs and going to bed at night scared by the sound of strangers outside.
“Every child has the right to a safe home and if we act now, we can help get them to a better place. So, every donation will mean Shelter can be there for the children and families who need us this Christmas.”
To support Shelter’s urgent appeal please visit www.shelter.org.uk or text SHELTER to 70030 to donate £3.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “Every child should have somewhere safe to live, and councils have a duty to provide temporary accommodation to those who need it, including families with children.
“We’re supporting them to reduce the numbers in temporary accommodation by giving £1.2bn to tackle all types of homelessness.”
