April 23rd 2024.
Being unable to provide for your children's basic needs is a form of torture. It's unimaginable to think that a parent would have to face such a heartbreaking reality. As I pressed play on the WhatsApp voice note from Jackie, my heart sank. I knew that she, her husband, and their two children had been placed in emergency accommodation - a single hotel room - after becoming homeless a few months ago. But what I didn't know was the extent of their living conditions.
As Jackie's distressed voice and the cries of her sick child filled my ears, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The family had no access to a fridge, oven, hob, or microwave - only a kettle to feed their family of four. It was a harsh reminder that no parent should have to struggle to provide their child with a simple, home-cooked meal. Unfortunately, Jackie's situation is not uncommon.
Receiving desperate messages from families like Jackie's is something my team and I are no strangers to. It's a heart-wrenching reality that never gets any easier. As a small charity for mothers at risk of homelessness with children under five, our mission is to advocate for housing, support, and services that allow these children to thrive. However, the biggest issue our families are facing now is being placed in emergency accommodation with no kitchen.
Sadly, the number of families living in temporary accommodation has reached an all-time high, with over 104,000 families affected last year alone. And according to Shelter's 2023 report, one in four of these families will have no access to adequate kitchen facilities. It's a shocking reality that no parent should have to face.
Local authorities are overwhelmed and stretched thin, leaving them no choice but to house these families in basic hotel rooms without proper cooking facilities. This, in turn, means that many children are going hungry or not receiving the balanced diets they deserve. It's a dire situation that needs immediate attention.
For families seeking asylum, the Home Office usually places them in catered hotels. While it may seem like a convenient option to have all meals provided, it's far from ideal. Imagine never being able to cook what you crave or eat when you want. Being confined to a limited, repetitive menu of 'aeroplane food' served in plastic containers with plastic cutlery every day can be dehumanizing.
Not to mention, the food provided may not be culturally or nutritionally appropriate. It's usually carb-heavy, leading to digestive issues and constipation for which doctors prescribe laxatives and supplements. It's disheartening to see children being medicated to counteract the effects of a poor diet rather than being provided with nutritious meals.
Just last month, another mother, Betsy, came to us with a problem. Her son had developed a painful rash on his back, and the doctor suspected food allergies. However, with no control over their meals and no funds to buy their own food, the family is unable to find the cause of the rash. We have stepped in and asked the hotel management and Home Office to transfer them to a place where they can control their son's diet. But until then, they are stuck relying on creams to alleviate his symptoms.
Many families, like Jackie's, are placed in hotel chains that do not have cooking facilities. This leaves mothers with no other option but to order takeaways. Another mother, Ruth, struggled with this after being housed in a hotel. Her children, aged two and six, had never eaten anything besides her home-cooked meals before. Suddenly, they were forced to eat inferior quality, processed takeaway food that was costing Ruth an extra £150 a week out of their basic benefits.
Ruth shared with us how frustrated and guilty she felt for not being able to provide her children with healthy, home-cooked meals. Confessions like these break our hearts. Not being able to meet your children's basic needs is a form of torture, and as a result, we are now fearing for the mental health of many mothers.
This issue is systemic and requires real change. That's why we have formed a campaign group, REACH - Rights, Experience, Advocacy, Change - to support mothers like Jackie, Ruth, and Betsy. We want to give them a platform to share their experiences and create campaigns that can make a real difference. Since its launch in December 2023, we have reached out to Felicity Buchan MP, who has responsibility for housing, and are now asking for everyone's support by signing a petition.
In the immediate future, we need to provide families with food vouchers, access to community kitchens, and if possible, camping stoves, fridges, or microwaves in their rooms. By Christmas 2024, our goal is to ensure that no family with a child under five is stuck in a hotel without a kitchen for more than six weeks, which is the legal limit. Ultimately, we want the government and local authorities to ban the use of hotels without kitchens as accommodation for families with young children.
We have a long way to go, but we are making progress. To any mothers who are going to bed tonight feeling like they have failed their children, please know that you are not alone, and you have not been abandoned. We care, and we are working towards bringing about change as soon as possible. You can read more about our campaign and get involved by signing the petition on our website.
*All names have been changed to protect the families' privacy. We encourage anyone with a story to share to reach out to us. Let's keep the conversation going. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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