Temporary accommodation is supposed to be a safety net. A short stop on the way back to stability. The reality looks very different for too many people. Families stuck in unsuitable places for months or even years. A system that is costing councils more than ever while delivering less and less.
Between 2019 and 2024, 74 children lost their lives where temporary accommodation was a contributing factor. That should stop all of us in our tracks. TA is meant to keep people safe. When it fails, the consequences are devastating.
At Justlife, our vision is simple. Temporary accommodation must be short, safe and healthy. Homes should support people to move forward, not trap them in cycles of harm.
So the question becomes: how do we actually make change stick?
As part of our five-year Transforming Temporary Accommodation Programme, we are launching three national Testing Hubs in Bristol, Nottinghamshire and Westminster. The purpose of these Hubs is not to produce another report that gathers dust. They will trial practical approaches that can improve everyday life for people in TA right now.
58 local areas applied to take part. Only three made it through. Each Hub gives us a different opportunity to learn how to fix the system.
Simon Gale, Justlife Chief Executive, sums it up:
“These Testing Hubs are about proving what works on the ground. This is about dignity, prevention and practical solutions. The learning will help drive real, lasting change for thousands of people in temporary accommodation.”
Led by 1625 Independent People and Caring in Bristol
Young people aged 18 to 25 who end up in TA often get little to no support. Bristol’s Hub introduces a new Navigator role based at Bristol Youth MAPS. The aim is straightforward: stabilise situations quickly, reduce harm, and prevent long-term homelessness. Those who need longer support will be linked into Project Z for ongoing help throughout their stay.
Led by Mansfield District Council, working with Ashfield District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council
Families in TA rely on a patchwork of services. Housing here, healthcare there, maybe education support if someone has capacity. Nottinghamshire’s Hub will test a coordinated approach that pulls this together so families get the right help at the right time. It is also designed to act as a blueprint for future local government reorganisation. If it works here, it can work anywhere.
Led by Cardinal Hume Centre
Some households face major barriers to moving out of TA, including neurodivergence, mental health challenges or changes to immigration status. Westminster’s Hub will provide intensive one-to-one support for between 20 and 40 of these households each year. This is about giving families the best chance at a stable future, not leaving them to battle systems alone.
Each Hub will receive £64,400 per year for two years, starting January 2026. More importantly, each will generate learning that we can use nationally. We will share the findings with councils, policy makers and communities to push for a TA system that actually protects people.
Change will not come from a single intervention. It will come from testing, learning, adapting and scaling what works. These Hubs are the first step.
Temporary accommodation must keep people safe. It must support recovery. It must be temporary. Through this programme, we are taking practical action to make that a reality.
