Government pledges to end children living in B&Bs

As part of the government's child poverty initiative, the government has promised to discourage children from growing up in B&Bs and make childcare more available to families on Universal Credit. According to the plan, it is expected to bring 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030,

the biggest reduction in a single Parliament since records began,

with steps including the removal of the two-child benefit cap. Alison McGovern, the homeless minister, said the effect of temporary accommodation was a reason linked to the death of certain children and babies, and that if newborns were still living in B&Bs by the time she finished her work, she would regard herself as a woel, a mother said. The plans were welcomed by homeless charities, but they wanted more to help people get out of poverty.

More than 172,000 children are currently homeless in England alone. To fix this, the government intends to ban unlawful placement of families in B&Bs beyond six weeks. According to the statute, councils are only supposed to house families with children in B&Bs as a last resort and for a maximum of six weeks. But figures from April to June 2025 reveal that more than 2,000 children have been living in B&Bs for longer than that. According to the government, child poverty rates are at a

historic high. After housing prices, 5 million children, roughly a third, are living in relative poverty. Three quarters of these were born from working families. According to McGovern, the aim is to have a

proper roof over our children's heads. Really, really shocked me that five years to 2024, 74 children, including 58 babies, died, and

one of the causes that was attributed to their deaths, was temporary housing,

she said on BBC Breakfast. The government needs to make sure no newborn babies are released from hospital to B&B care, which she regrets saying does occasionally occur. I'll be a failure if that's still happening by the time I've finished my work,

she said. The government's child poverty policy came after it was revealed that it would scrap the two-child benefit cap in April, widened free school meals to all children from families receiving Universal Credit, and opened free breakfast clubs.

Too many families are struggling without the basics, including a safe home, warm meals, and the help they need to make ends meet,

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said. In comparison, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said there was

some uncertainty over how much money reduction in measured poverty would result from these programs, partially due to real economic uncertainty. It was expected to account for 450,000 of the children lifted out of poverty by the end of the Parliament, with the remainder attributed to increasing free school meals. The IFS said other announcements, including temporary accommodation, were aimed at "much smaller groups of people.

You don't lift children out of poverty by making the whole world poorer,

shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately said. Work was the only way out of poverty, she said, adding:

Only the Conservatives have a concrete strategy to increase the economy, encourage parents back to work, and combat child poverty. The government claims that children who live in temporary accommodation have

devastating effects

on their physical and mental stability, missing school, and family disruption. According to James Cassidy, the head teacher of Eton Park Junior Academy in Burton-upon-Trent, students are getting more tired, anxious, and worried, which could have a knock-on effect on their concentration and friendships. The

vast majority

of pupils' families were having difficulties with the cost of living and long-term jobs, according to Mr. Mayer. The government's housing policies are

so welcome," Mr Cassidy said, adding that families often struggle to cope alone when placed in temporary housing.

Councils will also have a new legal responsibility to alert schools, health visitors, and doctors when a child is placed in sheltered housing under government rule to provide a more coordinated approach to supporting them. The government has announced that it will continue an £8 million pilot to reduce reliance on B&Bs as emergency accomodation in the 20 local authorities with the highest use over the next three years. As part of its forthcoming homelessness initiative, the company also plans to build 5,000 homes that can be used as more suitable temporary accommodation by 2030. It is a welcome initiative, according to Children's Commissioner Rachel de Souza, where many children live in shocking Dickensian conditions.No child should be growing up in a B&B or mouldy bedsit,

the government told homeless charity Shelter. However, ministers were encouraged to

get children out of temporary accommodation and into permanent homes

by unfreezing housing subsidies and building a new generation of social rent homes. The Well Foundation said that the plan demonstrated progress, but that

should go furtherto implement apreventative strategy that addresses the root causes of poverty. Meanwhile, Lord John Bird, the editor of Big Issue magazine, said that the government's scheme was lacking ambitious goals.There is every reason to be concerned that warm words will not translate into concrete change in this challenging economic environment," he said.

The Association of School and College Leaders' Pepe Di'Iasio said the proposals would make a real difference, but that more than just these policies in isolation would be needed.

A cross-Whitehall response, backed by significant investment,

he said.

According to the government, more accessible childcare is also included in the plan, as childcare costs are one of the biggest barriers to returning to work, with some people unable to pay upfront fees before receiving their first paycheck. It has proposed a rule change from next year to expand eligibility for upfront childcare costs to those returning from parental leave, which, according to the company, would make it easier for new parents who receive Universal Credit to return to work. Other items include encouraging parents to save money on baby formula.

Additional reporting by Vanessa Clarke

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