Sympathy: Roche

The number of children in temporary bed and breakfast accommodation remains unacceptably high, a homelessness charity has claimed.

A new report out by Shelter on Thursday has found a 10 per cent increase in the number of families in temporary accommodation such as hostels.

Research by the charity revealed around 100,000 children experienced homelessness in the last year with 81,250 families spending months or even years without a permanent address.

The report featured 30 homeless families and found that children in 43 per cent of the families had to change schools when they lost their homes. Many fell behind because they had to miss school, some for months, and had nowhere to sit and do homework.

Accommodation was also found to be of a low standard with families having to endure unsanitary living condition including unfurnished, dirty and cold rooms.

The majority of those who took part said overcrowding was a problem and this was often linked to health problems in children.

Ben Jackson, the charity's director of external affairs, said life in temporary accommodation is often bleak.

"Some of these children are travelling for hours to and from school and returning exhausted, to a flea-ridden bed. It's like something from the 19th century. This must not be allowed to continue," he said.

He also argued that a lack of resources was no longer an excuse for ministers not to address the problem.

"Following the recent spending review, John Prescott now has the money at his disposal to make a real difference in tackling child homelessness. Children suffering in emergency housing must be given priority. Their families desperately need affordable homes."

Barbara Roche, the minister with responsibility for homelessness, gave a sympathetic response to the report and promised that children would not be living in bed and breakfast hostels by 2004.

"Living in overcrowded rooms, sharing bathrooms and kitchens and moving every few months are among the factors that affect health and educational performance and unfairly disadvantage people from a young age," she said.