Barnardos acknowledges the drop in the number of children registered as living in emergency accommodation. The national figure dropped by 4.5% from July to August with the latest figures reporting 3,693 children as homeless. However the charity wishes to highlight that the drop comes alongside the announcement by the Minister that there has been a significant re-categorisation of a number of families who were previously deemed as living in emergency accommodation.
June Tinsley, Head of Advocacy, Barnardos said:“While we are of course welcoming of the significant drop in the reported number of children in emergency accommodation, it is unclear as to how much of the drop can be attributed to policies working and families actually securing a home instead of the categorisation adjustments that the Minister reported today. We will need to wait until next month’s figures to see if a downward trend is emerging. It's too early to tell at this stage."
She said:“In recent weeks we’ve heard how rents are continuing to rapidly rise, thousands of homes and properties lie vacant around the country, and a Government scheme set to deliver thousands of homes has only delivered 15. It is time for the Minister and Government to admit that a serious change in tack is needed to halt this crisis and there is no scope for complacency to set in. The fact remains that close to 3,700 children continue to live in emergency accommodation, their lives on hold, their health, wellbeing and development stunted.”
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