The UK government has committed to halting the practice of children growing up in bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) and to enhancing childcare accessibility for families on Universal Credit as elements of its child poverty strategy. The government projects lifting approximately 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030, marking 'the biggest reduction in a single Parliament since records began.' This initiative will include abolishing the two-child benefit cap.
Homelessness Minister Alison McGovern highlighted the detrimental impact of temporary accommodation on child mortality rates, expressing determination to resolve the issue, saying, 'If newborns are still living in B&Bs by the time I finish my job, I'll consider myself a failure.' Homelessness charities welcomed these plans but emphasized the need for broader measures to eradicate poverty.
Currently, over 172,000 children in England are in temporary accommodations. To address this, the government aims to end the unlawful placement of families in B&Bs for more than six weeks. By law, councils should only place families with children in B&Bs as a last resort and for no more than six weeks. However, statistics from April to June 2025 show more than 2,000 children exceeded this duration. According to the government, child poverty levels have reached a 'historic high,' with 4.5 million children living in relative poverty after housing costs, most of whom belong to working families.
McGovern expressed shock over the correlation between temporary accommodation and the death of 74 children, including 58 babies, between 2019 and 2024. She assured measures to prevent newborns from being discharged into B&B conditions, stating, 'If that's still happening by the time I've finished my job, I'll consider myself a failure.'
This child poverty strategy follows decisions to scrap the two-child benefit cap, extend free school meals to children from Universal Credit families, and offer free breakfast clubs. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer noted, 'Too many families are struggling without the basics: a secure home, warm meals, and the support they need to make ends meet.'
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) acknowledged uncertainties regarding the actual impact of these policies on poverty reduction, factoring in economic unpredictability. The two-child benefit cap removal is expected to help 450,000 children escape poverty by the end of the Parliament, with the remainder being impacted by the expansion of free school meals. Other policies, such as those concerning temporary accommodation, address 'much smaller groups of people,' according to the IFS.
Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately argued, 'You don't lift children out of poverty by making the whole country poorer,' emphasizing employment as the optimal path out of poverty. She stated, 'Only the Conservatives have a credible plan to grow the economy, support parents back into work, and tackle child poverty.'
The government warns of the 'devastating impact' on children living in temporary accommodations, affecting their physical and mental health, school attendance, and family cohesion. James Cassidy, headteacher at Eton Park Junior Academy in Burton-upon-Trent, shared with the BBC that students increasingly arrive at school tired, anxious, and stressed, influencing their concentration and friendships. Cassidy remarked most families face challenges with the cost of living and maintaining stable employment.