Thousands of homeless children

Wednesday, April 7, 2004

Thousands of homeless children will continue to live in bed and breakfast accommodation despite Government promises, the children's charity Barnardo's has warned. A new law which came into force on 1 April stipulates that housing authorities in England should only put families with children or pregnant women in B&B for a maximum of six weeks. But Barnardo's principal policy officer Alan Coombe said that narrow definitions used by the Government meant only around half of homeless families would be helped. He said the law only relates to private sector B&B, and does not include families in public sector temporary accommodation, such as hostels, 'where conditions can be as bad or worse'.