Clarion backs new campaign aiming to tackle temporary accommodation crisis for children
The campaign is built on a simple belief: that no child’s home should be temporary, and is supported by a growing coalition of housing associations.
Strategic communications consultancy Cratus Group is spearheading a new national umbrella campaign to tackle the growing crisis of children living in temporary accommodation, as government data shows the number affected has risen to more than 165,000 across England.
Called ‘165,000 Reasons’, the campaign has been launched at UKREiiF in Leeds this week. It is built on a simple belief: that no child’s home should be temporary, and is supported by a growing coalition including Clarion Housing Group, Shared Health Foundation, Peabody, Vistry, L&Q Group, Starboard Hotels, Square Roots, and LandFirst.
When the group first came together in 2025, more than 165,000 children were living in temporary accommodation. The latest figures from MHCLG show that number has now risen to 176,130 – an increase of more than 10,600 in a year.
That’s equivalent to one child entering temporary accommodation roughly every hour over the past twelve months.
Behind these statistics are children growing up without the stability of a permanent home. Many living in overcrowded rooms, unsuitable housing, hotels, B&Bs or short-term placements, often facing repeated moves, disrupted education, poorer health outcomes, and the loss of the security they need to thrive.
To tackle this crisis, the 165,000 Reasons campaign is calling for unified action across councils, charities, housing associations, developers, investors, businesses, and national policymakers to find practical solutions to this urgent social challenge and end the reliance on temporary accommodation for children.
From increasing the supply of affordable homes, to improving the quality of temporary accommodation, retrofitting empty buildings and reforming national policy, the solutions exist. What is needed now is the collective will to act.
Nick Kilby, Founder and Chair of Cratus Group, said:
“No child’s home should be temporary. But for more than 165,000 children in England, that is the reality. This is not just a housing crisis. It is a childhood crisis. It affects health, education, family stability, council finances, and long-term life chances.
“165,000 Reasons is about turning concern into action. We need better standards now, faster routes into stable homes and long-term reform so fewer children are forced to grow up without a stable place to call home.
“There are 165,000 reasons to act. Every one of them is a child.”
Clare Miller, Chief Executive of Clarion Housing Group, said:
“Temporary accommodation is no longer a short-term housing issue; it is a long-term social challenge affecting the futures of hundreds of thousands of children.
“At Clarion, we believe the response must go beyond awareness alone. We need collective action that brings together housing providers, government, charities, communities and partners to share insight, build momentum and develop practical solutions that genuinely reduce the number of children living without the stability of a permanent home.
“That is why we are delighted to support the 165,000 Reasons campaign. By caring about the scale of the challenge, uniting around a common purpose and focusing on solutions, we can help create better outcomes and stronger futures for children and families across the country.”
One of the campaign’s first steps is to invite councils facing the most acute pressures to become early partners and adopt the 165,000 Reasons pledge.
The pledge recognises the impact poor-quality temporary accommodation can have on children’s health, education, and wellbeing, and commits councils and partners to work together with national government to reduce reliance on temporary accommodation, improve standards and accelerate access to stable homes.
To find out more about the campaign, visit https://165000reasons.co.uk/ or contact 165000Reasons@cratus.co.uk