Shelter warns 131,000 children will be homeless this Christmas, the highest in over a decade

One in every 103 children in Britain is now homeless .

New analysis from Shelter has found a 59% increase in the number of homeless children in the last five years.

The charity warns the impact of the housing crisis will be felt across a generation as 1 in every 103 children in Britain is now homeless.

The leading homelessness charity estimates that 131,000 children will now wake up Christmas morning without a permanent home. This is at least 3,000 more than last year.

Of these 9,500 will spend their Christmas in a hostel or BnB, often with one family in a single room, sharing bathrooms and kitchens with other residents.

"I didn’t feel safe at all because there were other people living there...they would smoke a lot and it wasn’t good. I felt pretty scared because you never knew what would happen next there.”

Angel, Hackney, 9

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.

In the worst-affected local authority, Westminster, 1 in 11 children in the borough is homeless. In Kensington and Chelsea, which has the highest house prices in the country, 1 in 12 children don’t have a home.

“I was so scared. I just felt like I had failed my daughter because how could I have got us into a situation where we haven’t got a roof over our heads. My daughter who is eight started wetting the bed because she was scared and stressed... All I need is somewhere stable and affordable to live so I can raise my girl and work.”

Limarra, Southwark, 25

There are 87,310 homeless children in London alone – a 49% increase in five years. Beyond the capital, the housing crisis is also growing. There are 11,314 homeless children in the South East, more than double the number five years ago. The North West has also seen a 175% rise.

In England, there are an average of five homeless children for every school in the country. Shelter has found that teachers who worked with homeless students reported that they saw the situation causing severe emotional trauma leading to emotional stress, anxiety and problematic behaviours.

“As a parent I should be able to protect my children and keep them safe... but I can't. I feel hopeless. There is no joy or happiness in this house. All is frustration, arguments and pain. We are just so tired. For the last six-and-a-half years we have tried to move to a suitable property, without any success.

Samira, Islington, 34

"Teachers have reported homeless students facing a range of practical challenges from keeping track of possessions and uniform, to staying clean due to limited access to bathroom or laundry facilities.

“It’s not a way of living for kids. They can’t do their homework as there’s no internet unless they go to the library. But you’re out of borough so they don’t know where anything is. It’s horrible, an absolute nightmare and not something you’d want your worst enemy to go through.”

Michelle, Ealing, 41

New report The Housing Crisis Generation examines the scale and impact of homelessness on children in Britain today.

Greg Beales, director of campaigns at Shelter said, “No child should be homeless. But for the generation growing up in the housing crisis, this is the grim reality for many.

“The number of children hidden away in hostels and BnBs is enough to make anyone’s heart sink. These are not places for children. We hear about cold, damp – even rats. Young children are sharing beds with multiple family members, trying to play in dirty public corridors, and having to leave their block in the middle of the night to use the bathroom.

“Over the last five years, hundreds of thousands of children have known what it’s like to be homeless. The impact on these young people cannot be overstated. It doesn’t have to be this way. If we act now, we can change tomorrow to make sure every child has somewhere they can call home.”

Angel, 9, Hackney was living in a BnB with her mum and sister, they were moved into a hostel where they have been for two years.

“For meals we had to have small amounts because there wasn’t enough room to make what we would normally need. My little sister, she loves toys, so she wanted more toys, but we didn’t have enough space and my Mum needed to spend her money more carefully. So the only things we could spend it on were food and water, and all the other things we need to keep ourselves alive.

"I didn’t feel safe at all because there were other people living there. And, like here, they would smoke a lot and it wasn’t good. I felt pretty scared because you never knew what would happen next there. Also, for my little sister and my Mum I felt pretty worried as well, as you would never know if we’d run out of money.

“There were mice and there were rats. You see how they’re really sneaky, they come through our door and then they’re just running around everywhere in the night so they can find food where they can. Sometimes my Mum tries to trap them as they can spread diseases, but they’re really clever so they know where’s there’s traps or poisons. We found it tough with the rats and mice.”

30 sec clips and three-minute B-roll of this interview available.

To support Shelter’s urgent appeal please visit www.shelter.org.uk or text SHELTER to 70020 to donate £3.