MPs condemn findings after M.E.n. lifts lid on families living in squalor
Within hours of publication our investigation is raised in house of commons
A MAJOR Manchester Evening News investigation into the city’s child homelessness crisis has been raised in the House of Commons within hours of its publication.
We revealed the squalor, misery and fear suffered by many of the soaring numbers of families approaching the council for help, often after being priced out of their homes by rising rents.
Months of interviews carried out with families and charities uncovered the appalling conditions faced by children in hotels and emergency housing, including some guest houses with such strict rules that youngsters are banned from having food, visitors or a TV in their room.
A string of senior Labour politicians have lined up to condemn the findings, including the Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, deputy Labour leader Tom Watson and shadow education secretary Angela Rayner.
Manchester Central MP, Lucy Powell, challenged one of the ministers in charge on the floor of Parliament.
“The minister may have read the front page article on today’s Manchester Evening News, which is both powerful and harrowing – and a truly awful account of what it’s like for homeless families in Manchester today,” she said.
“When will the government come forward with a proper comprehensive plan for funding local government so they can serve families and house them when they are in desperate need in decent homes?”
In response, junior minister Rishi Sunak promised to read the investigation. “I thank the honourable lady for bringing to attention that article,” he said. “I’ll be sure to take a look at it later today. I know my honourable friend the minister for homelessness and housing is hard at work tackling this difficult issue, with over £1bn committed over the next few years.”
Manchester is a pilot area for ‘housing first,’ he added, although the project – which is aimed at getting entrenched rough-sleepers a roof over their head before they have tackled any addictions – has no relation to the crisis facing families already owed a legal duty by the council, but placed in poor conditions due to a lack of housing.
The M.E.N.’s investigation lifted the lid on a 10-fold rise in demand from homeless families in Manchester since 2014. Those families are then placed initially in hotels, before being housed in temporary accommodation, usually private sector housing procured by the council. We revealed that some families are sharing guest houses with drug addicts, forced to live four-to-a-room out of one suitcase and subject to strict rules.
A lack of cooking facilities means many are approaching food banks for ‘kettle packs’ – food parcels of meals that can be made just with hot water. Other families told of their experiences in emergency housing, including rats, cockroaches and damp so bad it was giving children health problems.
In response Manchester council admitted some conditions were below standard, adding that it is now upping its inspection regime. Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson called the article a ‘harrowing’ investigation that ‘deserves the widest audience,’ adding that the report tells of scenes it describes are ‘mirrored across the UK.’
Angela Rayner called the findings ‘beyond acceptable.’ “Another knockon effect of this is many families are living in squalor provided by some private landlords, which the state pays the (higher than social) rent for and the families are too frightened to report the situation for fear of being evicted,” she tweeted.
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham praised the investigation, but said the town hall had been hit by waves of cuts. “Nobody should ever have to live in accommodation like that and certainly not children.
“Like many of our councils, Manchester city council has been hit by unprecedented government cuts.” Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell