What are living conditions like in temporary accommodation?

Poor living conditions have consistently emerged as a key theme in our research into temporary accommodation. Common complaints include dampness, a lack of heating and basic appliances, poor hygiene and infestations (Not Home, 2014).

While some temporary accommodation is well run, it is often overcrowded, leaving residents with no choice but to share facilities such as kitchens, toilets, bathrooms, living rooms and stairways, which can lead to a lack of cleanliness.

Out of the individuals who participated in our Lifting the Lid research, most were sharing filthy, squalid bathrooms, which were regularly out of order.

We’ve also heard accounts of bed bug infestations, mice, and residents having to sleep next to walls covered in black mould(Hidden Homelessness Exposed, 2021).

Typically, temporary accommodation is populated by individuals with a history of substance misuse and mental health problems, many of whom suffer from past or ongoing trauma.

Tenants have no control over who is placed alongside them or over who their neighbours will be. While some do find friendships in these accommodations, there is a significant degree of distrust between residents.

Over 50% surveyed in our research did not have a working lock on their door or a way to prevent other residents from entering their rooms (Lifting the Lid, 2017).

Many have stories of their rooms being broken into, of coming back and finding someone in their room, of not knowing who else had a key to their room (Nowhere Fast, 2016).

This not only creates feelings of insecurity but also allows a culture of bullying and intimidation to take root. Some residents can be disruptive and noisy at all hours of the day and night, and there are instances of violence and crime.

Among our research group of 35 people living in Unsupported Temporary Accommodation, 15 told us they had been a victim of crime and 24 had witnessed or experienced violence (Not Home, 2014).

This lack of safety and security, exacerbated by the noisiness and chaos that surrounds them, can be extremely stressful for someone trying to recover from a history of abuse, crime, substance misuse or trauma.