A child poverty charity has criticised the Government’s affordable housing policy for not doing enough to help the 700,000 poverty-stricken children in London.

London is widely considered to be one of the most advanced and progressive cities in the UK, but it also has the highest child poverty rate.

According to Child Poverty Action Group, nearly 40% of children in London are living in relative poverty. This means their household income after housing costs is 60% below the national average.

A new photograph series exhibited at the Foundling Museum in Kings Cross aims to expose the grim living conditions of poverty-stricken children in London.

Entitled Bedrooms of London, the photographs capture cramped and dark rooms that look little like the bedrooms most people know.

Kathleen Palmer, Curator of Exhibitions and Displays at the Foundling Museum, says the project is designed to raise awareness and influence a change.

She says not everybody is aware that in every London borough children are living in poverty.

Ms Palmer hopes the exhibition will inspire people to take action themselves by putting pressure on politicians or by making a donation.

Photograph of poverty living conditions in London
The photo exhibition shows the dire conditions that London’s poverty-stricken children have been living in (Sacha Power for City News)

The government has pledged to spend £9bn on building affordable homes, and has set a target of building 300,000 new homes a year by the 2025.

But The Childhood Trust, who led the Bedrooms of London project, believe this isn’t adequate.

Laurence Guinness, the chief executive, says the term affordable housing does not take into account lower income families, and some households spend 90% of their monthly wage on rent.

A housing ministry spokesperson said: “all children deserve a bright future.”

“Providing quality and fair social housing is a priority.”

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