Government pledges to end children’s stay in B&Bs as part of ambitious poverty strategy

Plans include ending children’s stays in B&Bs, expanding free school meals, and improving housing

The UK government has unveiled an ambitious strategy aimed at tackling child poverty, with a pledge to end the practice of children growing up in temporary accommodation such as B&Bs. The announcement, which aims to lift 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030, has been hailed as a significant step forward but has also sparked calls for more comprehensive action from critics.

The strategy includes several measures to address the urgent housing crisis that sees over 172,000 children in England alone living in temporary accommodation. These measures include a promise to stop the “unlawful placement” of families in B&Bs beyond the six-week legal limit. Despite this, statistics from April to June 2025 revealed that more than 2,000 children had exceeded that time limit, highlighting the scale of the issue.

The government has also committed to providing £200 million annually for the next three decades to support six new devolved mayors, allowing them to invest in local housing and community development. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that these efforts will represent “the biggest reduction in child poverty in a single Parliament since records began,” offering hope to the millions of families struggling to make ends meet.

While homelessness charities have welcomed the strategy, they have urged the government to take further steps to address the root causes of poverty. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) raised concerns about the effectiveness of these measures, pointing out the uncertainty of achieving the proposed reductions in child poverty due to broader economic factors.

In England, child poverty currently stands at a historic high, with 4.5 million children roughly a third living in relative poverty after housing costs. Alarmingly, three-quarters of these children come from working families. According to Starmer, too many families are struggling to secure the basics such as a stable home, food, and adequate support. “It’s time we acted to address the deep inequalities that continue to harm our children,” he said.

One of the cornerstones of the government’s child poverty strategy is reversing the controversial two-child benefit cap. It also includes expanding free school meals to all children in families receiving Universal Credit and introducing free breakfast clubs. The IFS has estimated that ending the two-child benefit cap will lift 450,000 children out of poverty by the end of this Parliament, with the remaining reduction largely due to the expansion of school meals.

The government’s focus on improving temporary accommodation has been welcomed by many, but experts argue that simply improving conditions is not enough. Dame Rachel de Souza, the Children’s Commissioner, commended the focus on improving the quality of temporary accommodation, describing current conditions as “shocking Dickensian conditions” for many children. However, she also stressed the need for more permanent solutions, such as providing affordable, long-term housing options.

Shelter, a prominent homelessness charity, echoed these concerns. While it supported the government’s stance that no child should grow up in a B&B, it urged the government to go further by removing children from temporary accommodation altogether and providing more permanent homes. This includes unfreezing housing benefits and building more social housing to meet the growing demand.

James Cassidy, headteacher of Eton Park Junior Academy in Burton-upon-Trent, described the impact of living in temporary accommodation on his students. He said many children arrive at school tired, anxious, and stressed, which affects their learning and social interactions. Cassidy praised the government’s housing measures but stressed that more support was needed for families struggling with the cost of living and long-term employment.

Another key aspect of the government’s strategy is making childcare more accessible for families on Universal Credit. Childcare costs are a significant barrier to returning to work, and the government plans to introduce a rule change next year to allow those returning from parental leave to access upfront childcare costs. This, it is hoped, will make it easier for parents to re-enter the workforce without worrying about the initial childcare expenses.

However, critics like Helen Whately, the shadow work and pensions secretary, argue that the government’s plan fails to adequately address the broader economic challenges. Whately pointed out that making the country poorer as a whole would not solve child poverty, stressing that work remains the best route out of poverty.

As the government seeks to implement these measures, it faces significant scrutiny and pressure to ensure that its strategies lead to tangible improvements in the lives of children and families. With child poverty at historic levels, the next few years will be crucial in determining the effectiveness of these policies.