176,000 Children Without a Stable Home
Why Temporary Accommodation Cannot Become the Norm
176,000 children in England are currently living in temporary accommodation.
To put that into perspective, that’s enough children to fill Wembley Stadium… twice.
Behind every number is a child growing up without stability, routine or somewhere truly safe to call home. A child trying to sleep in a hotel room, navigate school while living in uncertainty, or spend years in accommodation that was only ever meant to be temporary.
Every child deserves somewhere safe, stable and secure to call home.
Not a hotel room.
Not years of uncertainty.
Not growing up in limbo.
Recent homelessness statistics continue to highlight the growing pressure facing families, local authorities and housing providers across the UK. While there have been slight improvements in some areas, the wider housing crisis remains deeply concerning — particularly for children and young people.
Temporary accommodation is often used as an emergency response, but increasingly it is becoming a long-term reality for thousands of families. Many households are now spending years in temporary housing, with significant impacts on wellbeing, education, mental health and future opportunities.
At Green Pastures, we see firsthand how safe, stable housing can change lives. A home provides far more than shelter — it creates the foundation for hope, dignity, recovery and rebuilding.
Long-term solutions will require more than short-term fixes. Sustainable supported housing, stronger partnerships and prevention-focused approaches are more important than ever if we want to see lasting change.
This is not simply a housing issue. It is a community issue, a wellbeing issue and ultimately a human issue.
Every child deserves the chance to grow up feeling safe.
Read the full article from The Big Issue here:
https://www.bigissue.com/news/housing/homeless-children-temporary-accommodation-december-2025/