An estimated 80 children died in temporary accommodation in the year up to 30 September 2024, according to new research.
Out of the 3,605 child deaths in England between 1 October 2023 and 30 September 2024, 80 died while living in temporary accommodation – up from 55 over the previous year, according to a new report from the APPG on Households in Temporary Accommodation.
Whether temporary accommodation was a contributing factor to these deaths will be assessed through the Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) process.
The report also found that between 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2024, 74 children died with temporary accommodation as a contributing factor to their vulnerability, ill-health, or death. Of these 74 children, 58 were under the age of 1.
Commenting on the findings, Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said: ‘These truly shocking findings break my heart. We will fix the system that has left far too many families trapped in temporary accommodation with no end in sight and end homelessness for good by tackling the root causes and driving up housing standards.’
