NEW DATA has revealed one in 44 children in Coventry are homeless and living in temporary accommodation.
Ikea and Shelter are urging the Government to commit to building a new generation of genuinely affordable social homes.
The partnership is aiming to raise awareness of the housing emergency as figures show the number of children in temporary accommodation in England has increase by 15 per cent in the last year.
This makes it the highest number since records began in 2004.
There is a shortage of social homes, rising evictions and high private rents are forcing more families across the country into homelessness.
Temporary accommodation is provided by councils for families who are waiting for applications to be processed for a home – they can include emergency hostels, B and Bs, one room bedsits and small flats.
IKEA and Shelter unveiled an ‘Unwelcome Home’ doll’s house urging people to take a closer look at the reality.
The pair are campaigning to ensure by 2030, half a million people have access to a better life at home.
They are inviting people to sign an open letter calling on the Government to commit to building 90,000 social rent homes each year for ten years.
Hiliary Jenkins, partnerships lead at IKEA UK and Ireland, said: “Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. Families homeless in temporary accommodation face insecurity, cramped conditions and sometimes serious hazards, which is unacceptable.
“Alongside Shelter, we’re shining a light on the horrifying conditions experienced by families who are stuck in homeless accommodation which is proving to be anything but temporary.
“We’re calling on the Government to build a new generation of social rent homes for families, to help tackle the housing emergency.”
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “Temporary accommodation truly is horrifying, with families crammed into emergency hostels and grotty B and Bs often miles away from their schools and jobs.
“Through our partnership with IKEA, we’re showing the grim reality facing the one in 78 children growing up homeless in this country, from being forced to share beds with their siblings, or bathrooms with strangers, to dangerous and damp conditions.
“With rents at a record high, evictions rising and so few social homes available, we desperately need government action.
“The only way to help families into a safe and secure home and end homelessness is to build genuinely affordable social homes – we need 90,000 a year for ten years.”
According to new data, temporary accommodation costs Coventry City Council over £12million to home overt 1,800 people.
Personal Injury Claims sent an FOI to the council which showed there are 1,8087 people staying in temporary housing in the city, and this is the second year in a row the number has grown.
