Thanks to Dottie for alerting me to this in the Guardian today:

Living in temporary accommodation has contributed to the deaths of 104 children in England in the past six years, 76 of whom were under the age of one, according to data. Statistics also show there were 64 stillbirths and 27 neonatal deaths involving mothers living in temporary accommodation (TA) in the UK in 2024. Experts say the housing crisis is pushing families into conditions that endanger their lives.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/apr/22/temporary-accommodation-deaths-children-england

I can find no directly comparable data for Scotland but this major difference is connected.

From STV in February 2025:

The number of children living in temporary accommodation across Scotland has hit its highest level in over 20 years. Homelessness statistics, covering April 1 to September 30, 2024 were released by the Scottish Government on Wednesday. The report found 10,360 children were living in temporary accommodation last year, a 5% increase from 9,855 in 2023.¹

According to Shelter, in England in April 2024, there were 145 800, up 15% in one year.

So that’s 46% more children in temp accommodation and the rate of growth three times higher in England.

Media reporting other than in Scotland, is not calling for ministers to resign.

Sources:

1. https://news.stv.tv/scotland/number-of-scottish-children-living-in-temporary-accommodation-hits-highest-level-in-over-20-years
2. https://england.shelter.org.uk/media/press_release/record_145800_children_in_temporary_accommodation__up_15_in_a_year#:~:text=Posted%2030%20Apr%202024,and%20only%20two%20months’%20notice.

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