UP TO 43 children in Bromsgrove will wake up homeless in a hostel or B&B this Christmas, statistics reveal.
As part of a report by Shelter, 4,838 children are currently homeless in temporary accommodation in the West Midlands, the highest amount in a decade.
With at least 16 families becoming homeless every day in the region, the charity is calling on the public to support its urgent Christmas appeal.
To expose the devastating reality of homelessness, Shelter carried out in-depth interviews with children and their parents living in emergency B&Bs and hostels.
During the investigation, a quarter of families had no access to a kitchen at all and half of families had to share toilet and bathroom facilities with other households, often with filthy conditions and unlockable doors.
These living conditions can lead to issues with mental health, physical illness and suicide.
Vicky Hines, Shelter Birmingham Hub manager, said: “It’s a national scandal that the number of homeless children in Britain has risen every year for the last decade.
“No child should have to spend Christmas without a home, let alone almost 5,000 children in West Midlands.
“That’s why our frontline advisers will continue to work tirelessly to help more families fighting homelessness.”
To support Shelter’s urgent Christmas appeal please visit www.shelter.org.uk or text SHELTER to 70080 to donate £3.
