Local authority leaders have urged the Government to increase the temporary accommodation subsidy as MPs warn homeless children are being forced to live in ‘appalling conditions’.

The Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee has set out the damaging impact unsuitable accommodation is having on the wellbeing of homeless children.

A report by the committee highlights the poor state of some temporary housing, citing cases of serious damp and mould, excessive cold, mice infestations, and overcrowding.

The study also warns some children and families are forced to live away from their communities and share communal facilities with people who have a history of domestic abuse.

It is estimated that over the last five years temporary accommodation contributed to the deaths of at least 74 children, of whom 58 were under the age of one.

Committee chair Florence Eshalomi described the crisis as ‘utterly shameful’

‘When 74 children had their deaths linked to temporary accommodation in the last five years, it’s clear we need to act urgently to bring an end to this crisis before any more young lives are ruined or lost.’

Local authorities spent a combined £2.29bn on temporary accommodation in 2023/24 and they are currently looking after an estimated 164,000 homeless children.

Cllr Adam Hug, housing spokesperson for the Local Government Association, said: ‘It is no secret that the scale of the challenge facing local government on temporary accommodation and homelessness – and the financial pressures – are immense.

‘Frozen temporary accommodation subsidy rates have left councils to pick up more than £700m in temporary accommodation costs that they are unable to claim back from government.’

He added: ‘Government needs to use the upcoming Spending Review to ensure that councils are sufficiently resourced, including by urgently increasing the temporary accommodation subsidy.’

A Government spokesperson described the committee’s findings as ‘shocking’ and said the Government was investing nearly £1bn in homelessness services this year.