Official figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats show that Haringey Council has the highest number of children living in temporary accommodation out of all local authorities in England.

In 2007 there were 7,918 children living in short-term and often unsuitable housing, 1,500 more than the next highest council, Brent.

Local MP and opposition councillors on Haringey Council are calling for a fundamental review in the way housing is allocated to address the London Borough of Haringey’s apparent failure to adequately prioritise the needs of children living in temporary accommodation.

Lynne Featherstone, MP for Hornsey & Wood Green, says:

“Living with the uncertainty of not knowing when you might have to change school or leave your friends is terribly disruptive for child and family stability.

“Again Haringey is at the top of the worst type of league table. These terrible statistics confirm the sad stories I see week in and week out in my surgery. These families are being let down by Haringey Council’s housing system.

“We need an urgent rethink on the borough’s housing policy, not weak assurances.”

Councillor Laura Edge, Haringey Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson, adds:

“Children should be the heart of housing decisions, not an afterthought. There seems to be an annual closed door review of the housing allocation policy, but nothing seems to change.

“Enough is enough, we cannot continue with a housing allocation policy that so obviously fails the people it is supposed to help.”