Christians must not ignore the crisis of hidden homelessness

Covid-19 proved that homelessness could be tackled, says Tim Farron MP. But five years on, more than 132,000 households are still in temporary accommodation - and 74 children have died due to poor housing conditions

At the start of the Covid pandemic in 2020, 90 per cent of all rough sleepers in Britain were helped into accommodation within a matter of weeks. It was a remarkable achievement. But since then, most have returned to the streets.

In rural constituencies like mine, it’s less visible. There are fewer rough sleepers and most sleep in woods and ruins – out of sight and, to many, out of mind too. But there are also vast numbers of ‘hidden homeless’ – those who are crashing on friends’ sofas, or families being temporarily housed in B&Bs or hotels.

Currently, more than 132,000 households are living in temporary accommodation in England, including 172,000 children. This is hugely expensive for councils and is also often damp, cold, overcrowded and unstable. Families are moved around the country, often sent miles away from schools, jobs and support networks.

Having nowhere to call home impacts your whole life and brings a permanent feeling of insecurity. Your mental and physical health is likely to plummet. There may be no facilities to prepare a meal, or for children to do their homework.