Thousands of children forced to grow up in shipping containers

[stumbledin]

More than 210,000 children are estimated to be homeless across England, with thousands growing up in shipping containers, office blocks and B&Bs, often miles away from their schools, research shows.

Politicians and campaigners have accused ministers of a “catastrophic failure” to address the housing crisis after a study by the children’s commissioner found the true number of children living without a permanent home was considerably higher than government estimates.

Ms Longfield said: “Something has gone very wrong with our housing system when children are growing up in B&Bs, shipping containers and old office blocks.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/child-homeless-shipping-containers-office-blocks-housing-a9071726.html

What an indictment of the UK that in 21st century children are being put through this. And presumably this means that many single women have found themselves with no other option than to accept this is the only option they have.

As said above it is extremely stupid to expect to live in London if you cannot afford to and expect tax payers to subsidise you

The woman quoted lived in a hostel with one child - then had another! And now complains about the shipping container.

Bertie I agree. It was a shame that the article focused on the containers as that allowed people to say ‘but they’re fine’. And ignore the problem of kids in b&bs etc. I do think that having four children when you are in a vulnerable housing position is unwise though.

Fucking hell the replies on here are terrifying. The likes of you will explain away any injustice until it happens to you. I hope your views on life come back and bite you so spectacularly that you eat your words.

Some people end up in terrible situations through no fault of their own, other people don’t make good decisions. Either way, no child deserves to live in a mouldy, hot, crowded storage container, or any of the other unsuitable options offered up as ‘temporary’ accommodation.

There are people on this thread who think it is really quite desirable / luxurious to live in a small metal box with no heating / air con in the uk?

The piece I read said they get incredibly hot in the summer and freezing in the winter.

It's not like they've taken them insulated them etc etc like some kind of flashy docklands development.

To see on feminism chat women saying children should suffer because they have bad mothers, and the men and society have no hand in this, is really very grating.

Either way, no child deserves to live in a mouldy, hot, crowded storage container, or any of the other unsuitable options offered up as ‘temporary’ accommodation

How will these children concentrate at school when they’ve been cold all night? Or had no space to play? Or their mother is depressed due to over crowding and worried about money/food/clothes/job etc? When her energy is focused on getting dad to step up and help out?

We just raise another round of under educated children who live the life they’ve known.

Given the fact that we live on an island and that property is at a premium, what is the actual solution to this problem?

I'm a feminist and I don't agree with blaming women for male behaviour, but women choose their family size. That's just how the biology works. When people have insecure relationships or have children with unreliable men then inevitably the women will be left with the aftermath. Realistically, how else could that work?

oosefoot

I dont know of any women who wake up one day and 'find' themselves in this position. It would be good if we could educate these women to make better choices to choose not to have children at all if it meant being subject to such lives until they are able to provide some sort of security and stability.

Yes, children are a
However anyone who makes sensible choices will be highly unlikely to find themselves facing these conditions.

Spoken from a place of high privilege no doubt.

I do agree that education is an important part of prevention, but it's by no means the only factor and not everybody has access to the same options for choices as others. Circumstances can change without it being your fault.

Quote bold fail!

I’ve always liked the following quote:

If you have more than you need, you’re not supposed to build a wall, you’re supposed to extend your dinner table, add some chairs and share what you don’t need.

I’m happy to help and support those who are less fortunate live in London. I’d sincerely hate for London to become a place solely for the elite and all working class removed.

When I was 16, after many years of living with a terribly violent racist father because my mother was told ‘you’ve made your bed now lie in it’ by her mother, she did as posters here would probably want and put up with abuse and suffering because it was her poor choices that led to it.... only that meant her 4 children suffered too.... Never mind we deserved it, poor choices...
So at 16, with not so much as a sleeping bag he kicked me out in a violent rage, I tried my best to keep attending school but didn’t last long. I had to go on benefits even though I found a little job. I got better jobs, working 6 days, met a nice man and got married and had a child. We both never had parental support so for a time did get child tax credit here in the uk, but now fully support ourselves.

I could be cocky and say, since everything is ok for me now, well despite a rough start I made some good choices so others can do the same and should stop expecting handouts. Except.... I know that if one of us died right now, the other would struggle to support themselves and our child. If I die, my DH is autistic and would struggle to cope and look after our autistic child. If my illnesses or mental health deteriorates again, he might be in a similar position. If he died, we would struggle financially. A lot. I’d probably come right eventually, but I might need help along the way.

It’s very easy to say less fortunate people made their choices, when you yourself have plenty of choices and things planned out ok. To not consider for one second the many many life experiences or unexpected things that can affect how someone manages life... including the system we live in that helps the privileged few maintain their power and hold onto their money, well you’d have to be incredibly heartless and incredibly ignorant. Really. And if you’re on FWR and don’t understand how family violence and Male violence affects poverty, you need to do better.

I’m going to continue to add chairs to my table.

idaho I really hope you're trolling. We also spent a year or so in a B&B because my dad went to prison. Not sure how that was my mum's fault, spose she should have predicted he was a wrong un and not had children with him.

but women choose their family size.

Just women? and it always works out? Blaming women again.

Such 'whataboutism' here. It can absolutely be true that people fall on hard times through no fault of their own, life events can pull the rug from under your feet. It can also be true that people have children and effectively force them into an already poverty-stricken situation.

But it seems to not be okay to consider the latter as a factor, because its unkind and might hurt people's feelings, and also because other people can't help the situation they're in. Also you'll get called 'vile' for stating facts 🙄

Couple downstairs from me didn't have a job between them when they had DC1, always complaining about being skint. They're on DC 3 now and still no job. I'll be the bad, judgy one for pointing that out though.

I used to think like some of you. Untill it happened to me, I was married with 2 dc in private rented accommodation when my coke bead ex dh left us, I couldn't afford the £1350 rent. I've been left with massive debt and was forced to move in with my parents who live above the pub they own, they are heavy drinkers and ended up kicking me and my dc out. I've been in temporary accommodation for months, this is never the life I saw myself or my children having nor was it any of my wrong doing. Shit happens and you can't judge these women

This will be a result of the housing benefits cap brought in by the Tories.
It was obvious to anyone that families on HB who could no longer pay their rent would become homeless and end up having to be housed in emergency accommodation paid for by the same council that was paying their HB -often more expensive for the council than the HB was.
Homelessness has gone up massively thanks to the Tories.

I recommend everyone on this thread watches this.

www.channel4.com/programmes/george-clarkes-council-house-scandal/episode-guide/

The thing is pp on this thread are slating women for making poor choices. But the problem effects families that including the father.

They are homeless because the price of private rent is out of reach for many low average earners. whether they are so single parent families or not.

But it seems to not be okay to consider the latter as a factor, because its unkind and might hurt people's feelings, and also because other people can't help the situation they're in. Also you'll get called 'vile' for stating facts 🙄

It’s not about not hurting a persons feelings. It’s about not punishing children for their parents ‘mistakes’, and giving them a little security that will give them a chance in life.

Blaming doesn’t solve the problem, it just perpetuates it.

For all of you bewailing this situation- where exactly do you expect London councils to find affordable building land to provide the extra hundred thousand homes?
I notice that the virtue signalling George Clark, in his “Council house scandal” programme, intends to build his utopian new council estate in ....(drum roll)... Manchester.
Well that will be a big help then, won’t it.

Such 'whataboutism' here.

You’ve used this phrase wrong. This would refer to “so they’re homeless, but what about all the people who caused it themselves!”

It doesn’t refer to people offering reasons why people may be in an unfortunate system.

Leaving the thread now but at least we are all clear on what kind of people happily allow these situations to happen.

@JHaniver I agree. The children shouldn't be punished. They are the future after all, and should have the best possible start in life, and they should be helped where possible. But some parents fail their kids and reduce their chances of succeeding by dragging them into the poverty cycle... It needs to be looked at and not ignored, it seems be everyone else's fault but the parents themselves, and yes, virtue signallers come out in droves to protect their feelings should you dare mention this. Again, some. It's annoying constantly having to put disclaimers in what I say because people want to act disingenuous and as if people who are critical of irresponsible parents are in fact slagging off every single family ever that's been down on their luck. The argument always seems to be 'I hope you never lose your job/ I hope your partner leaves' when that's not what my argument was at all.

'*hope your partner never leaves.' I meant to say. In essence, it can be true that you sympathise greatly with people who are struggling, but it can also be true that you are critical of people bringing children into the world when you know you can't meet their basic needs without a handout.

Just checked what's happening in Finland:

"Per the latest statistics, the number of homeless people in Finland has declined from a high of 18,000 30 years ago, to approximately 7,000: the latter figure includes some 5,000 persons who are temporarily lodging with friends or relatives. In short, the problem has basically been solved."