Problems with heating, water and safety hazards in temporary accomodation are substantially higher in London compared to the rest of the country.
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Campaigners told the London Assembly that lessons have not been learnt since the Grenfell Tower fire, and attitudes surrounding temporary accommodation must change.
London residents living in temporary housing said they endure rat infested and mould-ridden apartments. This is because they are afraid of being a nuisance to councils.
Kwajo Tweneboa told the Housing Committee on Wednesday that residents had to “put up and shut up” about problems.
“It shouldn’t have taken Grenfell for lessons to have been learnt”, campaigners told the London Assembly’s housing committee. CREDIT: ASSOCIATED PRESS
“The thing that costs nothing is attitude and culture… It shouldn’t have taken Grenfell for lessons to have been learnt. I have to say, six and a half years on, I’m not convinced lessons have been learnt”.
Shelter found that 42% of residents living in temporary housing in London experience rat infestations, compared to 27% of residents outside London.
Problems with heating, water and safety hazards are also substantially higher in London compared to the rest of the country.
The greatest concerns
The Housing Committee asked campaigners what the greatest concerns were for residents living in temporary accommodation.
In response Maria Morgan, founder of the housing charity Kineara, told a story about a rat infestation that stunted the growth of a 7-month-old baby, who was restricted to a travel cot out of safety concerns.
Collectively, the campaigners highlighted the lack of available advice for residents. They explained that the high demand for housing is straining councils.
London residents living in temporary housing said they endure rat infested and mould-ridden apartments. CREDIT: CITY NEWS/LANA LAZAREVSKI
All campaigners told the committee the underlying cause of the crisis is a culture of apathy and neglect shown towards residents by councils in London.
The proposed solutions
Jamie Thunder, from the benefits and housing charity Z2K, said the “temporary accommodation crisis is getting far worse” and it only gets attention when the issues affecting people in poverty “reach unbearable levels”.
The Housing Committee tackling temporary accommodation. CREDIT: LONDON ASSEMBLY
The Mayor of London is not required to address the temporary accommodation crisis, as councils are ultimately responsible.
Yet, campaigners urge the Housing Committee to centralise the local council response to the crisis, to hold councils accountable.
Campaigners are also pushing to have the voices of residents living in temporary accommodation heard on panels and committees.
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HeadlineAttitudes must change to tackle temporary housing crisis, campaigners say
Short HeadlineAttitudes 'must change' to tackle accommodation crisis
StandfirstThe London Assembly heard on Wednesday that councils must do better to respect residents living in temporary accommodation.
Campaigners told the London Assembly that lessons have not been learnt since the Grenfell Tower fire, and attitudes surrounding temporary accommodation must change.
London residents living in temporary housing said they endure rat infested and mould-ridden apartments. This is because they are afraid of being a nuisance to councils.
Kwajo Tweneboa told the Housing Committee on Wednesday that residents had to “put up and shut up” about problems.
“It shouldn’t have taken Grenfell for lessons to have been learnt”, campaigners told the London Assembly’s housing committee. CREDIT: ASSOCIATED PRESS
“The thing that costs nothing is attitude and culture… It shouldn’t have taken Grenfell for lessons to have been learnt. I have to say, six and a half years on, I’m not convinced lessons have been learnt”.
Shelter found that 42% of residents living in temporary housing in London experience rat infestations, compared to 27% of residents outside London.
Problems with heating, water and safety hazards are also substantially higher in London compared to the rest of the country.
The greatest concerns
The Housing Committee asked campaigners what the greatest concerns were for residents living in temporary accommodation.
In response Maria Morgan, founder of the housing charity Kineara, told a story about a rat infestation that stunted the growth of a 7-month-old baby, who was restricted to a travel cot out of safety concerns.
Collectively, the campaigners highlighted the lack of available advice for residents. They explained that the high demand for housing is straining councils.
London residents living in temporary housing said they endure rat infested and mould-ridden apartments. CREDIT: CITY NEWS/LANA LAZAREVSKI
All campaigners told the committee the underlying cause of the crisis is a culture of apathy and neglect shown towards residents by councils in London.
The proposed solutions
Jamie Thunder, from the benefits and housing charity Z2K, said the “temporary accommodation crisis is getting far worse” and it only gets attention when the issues affecting people in poverty “reach unbearable levels”.
The Housing Committee tackling temporary accommodation. CREDIT: LONDON ASSEMBLY
The Mayor of London is not required to address the temporary accommodation crisis, as councils are ultimately responsible.
Yet, campaigners urge the Housing Committee to centralise the local council response to the crisis, to hold councils accountable.
Campaigners are also pushing to have the voices of residents living in temporary accommodation heard on panels and committees.
