Vast majority of Grenfell fire families yet to be permanently rehoused

THE RESPONSE to the Grenfell Tower fire was branded a “disgrace” after the Government revealed the majority of the families who lost their homes have not been permanently rehoused.

Housing Minister Alok Sharma said of the 203 households who previously lived in the tower and on Grenfell Walk, 26 were living in permanent accommodation at the end of last month.

More than half, 130, were living in emergency accommodation and 47 were living in temporary accommodation, Mr Sharma said. Labour MP David Lammy, who uncovered the figures using a written parliamentary question, said they should be a “source of shame” for the Government and local council.

“Five months on from the Grenfell Tower fire we are seeing an abject failure by the state to support the survivors of this tragedy,” he said. “It is nothing short of a disgrace that 130 households are still living in emergency accommodation in bed and breakfasts.

“These families have been failed by the state time and time again and it should be a source of shame for the Government and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) that so many of these families will be spending Christmas in a bed and breakfast.

“It is totally unacceptable that only one in eight families have been rehoused in permanent accommodation, and it is clear that the RBKC and DCLG (Department for Communities and Local Government) teams responsible for supporting and rehousing Grenfell Tower residents are totally unfit for purpose.”

The Minister said the council was “working urgently” to move all affected families into temporary or settled accommodation.