Dozens of Sheffield children in temporary accommodation during first lockdown

Dozens of children in Sheffield were living in temporary accommodation during the first UK lockdown, figures show.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Following the Government's announcement of a new £15 million package to support rough sleepers during the current lockdown, homeless charities have said they are frustrated at the piecemeal approach to funding.

Centrepoint, a charity supporting homeless young people, wants to see ring-fenced resources for under-25s, who they say have been hit the hardest by the pandemic.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Between April and June, 284 Sheffield households who were homeless or at risk of homelessness were placed in temporary accommodation – including 35 with children.

Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local GovernmentRobert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government
Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government

This meant 82 Sheffield children were living in accommodation ranging from private housing to B&Bs.

Read More
Sheffield sends message to post office workers amid ‘late delivery’ complaints

Figures from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government show that 1.16 households per 1,000 in Sheffield were in temporary accommodation between April and June.

Across the region there were 1,950 households in temporary accommodation in the period, including 540 with children.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Paul Noblet, Centrepoint's head of public affairs, said: "To keep rough sleepers safe this winter we need to see a level of focus and funding from the government which matches their initial response to the pandemic earlier this year.

If we're to keep people safe this winter, we urgently need ministers to replicate the effective support that was rapidly put in place at the beginning."

Polly Neate, chief executive of homeless charity Shelter, said: "It’s critical that access to safe accommodation is not a lottery in this pandemic, it must be there for everyone who needs it.”

Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, said: "The way we have protected rough sleepers from Covid-19 is widely considered to be the best in the world."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He continued: "At the start of the pandemic we launched Everyone In, which protected thousands of vulnerable people.

"That work hasn’t stopped and we’ve backed it with £700 million."

Sheffield City Council was approached for a comment.

Visit shelter.org.uk

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a digital subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.