Thanet children in temporary accommodation this Christmas revealed in Shelter report

Research from charity Shelter has revealed that 155 children in Thanet are homeless and living in temporary accommodation (as of March 2019).

The figure is a slight improvement on 2017 when 187 children in Thanet were expected to be homeless over Christmas.

In the south east 11,680 children are homeless and living in temporary accommodation, according to the report launched today (December 3). That figure is a rise of 95% in the last five years.

For the first time the charity has exposed the frequency with which children are becoming homeless in the region. Its Generation Homeless report reveals 20 children lose their home every day in the South East.

The report also shines a light on the 460 families with children in the region currently living in emergency B&Bs and hostels – widely considered the worst type of accommodation.

Families are often squashed into one room with little space to cook, play or eat their meals; are forced to share bathrooms with strangers; and the accommodation is often miles away from schools, jobs and loved ones.

With a severe lack of social homes, expensive private rents and welfare cuts driving the country’s housing emergency, Shelter is warning that if nothing changes 180 children across the South East will be made homeless between now and the time of the general election on December 12 and 440 by Christmas day on December 25.

Shelter Christmas appeal

The charity is calling on every political party to put housing at the top of its domestic agenda and is asking the public to support its urgent Christmas appeal.

Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: “The fact 20 children in the South East 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 region. Many are being uprooted from their friends, while others are forced to live in cramped B&Bs and go 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, our frontline advisers can support more homeless families in the South East to get to a better place. Every donation will help Shelter to be there for everyone who need us this Christmas.”

To donate to Shelter’s urgent Christmas appeal please visit www.shelter.org.uk or text SHELTER to 70030 to donate £3. Texts cost your standard network rate + £3. Shelter receives 100% of your donation.

In need of a home

There are approximately 2,645 households registered on Thanet’s housing waiting list and some 111 placed in temporary accommodation.

Thanet council owns 3,021 homes, which are currently managed by East Kent Housing, but demand has outstripped supply.

To tackle this the authority has undertaken its own scheme of building or refurbishing 150 homes by 2020 at a cost of £30million.

Some £14million has been spent on housing schemes across Thanet. These projects include a new build programme, Margate Housing Intervention project, Empty Homes Project 2012-15, and King Street intervention.

The council also plans to create its own housing company by April 1, 2020. The company would enable the council to directly buy land and build properties.

It is hoped the project will mean better standard housing, better management and more affordability for residents.

Get help

Contact RISE on 01843 577277 – or 01843 577 000 in an emergency out of hours.

Drop ins:

Wednesday 9.30am-12pm Margate Gateway

Tuesday 2pm-4pm GAP Baptist Church, Broadstairs

Email: [email protected]