Josh Babarinde

Josh Babarinde

Liberal Democrat — Eastbourne

Speaking in the House of Commons on 24 October 2024

Debate

Temporary Accommodation

Contribution

I could not agree more, and I will come to the costs of temporary accommodation later. The hon. Lady knows as well as I do that the National Audit Office described the situation as unsustainable. It needs a resolution, which is why today’s debate is so important. On securing the debate, I called Kelly, shared the news, and she said in reply: “What needs to be said is going to be said in the place it needs to be said to the person it needs to be said to. You are the right person to say it, Josh.” It is therefore so humbling to welcome Kelly and her son Joseph to the Public Gallery. I hope that I am the right person, that I say what needs to be said, and that I do not let Kelly and families like hers down. With her blessing, I have shared some of Kelly’s story today. She is just one of the 117,450 families who are in temporary accommodation in this country right now. That is a 12% rise compared with last year. Heartbreakingly, more than 150,000 children are living in temporary accommodation, which is enough to fill 5,000 classrooms.

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