Hundreds of vulnerable children in Britain’s care system are still living in illegal and inappropriate accommodation, a damning new report has revealed. In response, Christian Charities is calling on churches across the country to step up renewed prayers, action and advocacy.
Research published by the Children’s Commissioner for England shows that 669 children – many with serious mental health needs or additional educational requirements – are being housed in places such as caravans, holiday camps and short-term rentals, often far from family and community support. A year after the problem was first flagged, the report warns that systemic flaws are still leaving some of the country’s most at-risk children without a safe and stable home.
The report, detailed in a press notice issued on January 11, exposes what the commissioner described as “the continued use of illegal and inappropriate accommodation for children in care,” despite current law prohibiting such facilities. Last year, 764 children were recorded living in unsuitable conditions, and new data shows hundreds remain in such conditions, some having spent more than 12 months in unregistered homes.
The report found that many of the affected children had complex needs. Nearly 60% required an education, medical or care plan, indicating a significant need for additional educational or developmental support, and more than a third were cared for by child and youth mental health services, highlighting the increased vulnerability of those in substandard housing.
Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Sousa said the findings were a harsh indictment of the current system, warning that a lack of appropriate placements was leading to decisions that jeopardized the care of children with the most complex needs.
“This is what failure looks like in children’s services. It is the lack of suitable options that determines the quality of care given to children with complex needs,” said Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Sousa.
He said it was “indicative of widespread failings across the system” that hundreds of children remain in illegal accommodation, even though these facilities are illegal and are being scrutinized by the government’s Child Welfare and Schools Bill, which is currently going through Parliament.
“I am deeply concerned about how often these illegal placements are taking place, even though they are already against the law and are the focus of the Government’s Child Welfare and Schools Bill, which is currently going through Parliament. This Bill highlights further details that are truly shocking about the needs and circumstances of the children affected.”
The Children’s Commissioner reported that of the 669 children illegally detained, 89 had been living in the same illegal detention center for more than a year. Most of the children are over the age of 15, but some are preschoolers raised in illegal children’s homes.
The average duration of these illegal placements is just over six months. The children’s commissioner said one child was kept in a holiday camp for nearly nine months, another in a caravan for more than four months, and a small number of children remained in illegal housing for more than three years.
Mr de Sousa said that instead of spending millions on costly crisis responses, the money should be used to invest in a model of social care for children that prioritizes early intervention in life, bringing children closer to loved ones and ensuring stability and support.
Weekly placement costs average £10,500 ($14,143) per child, or £500,000 a year. England’s parliaments last year estimated they would spend a total of £353 million ($475.44 million) on illegal children’s homes in 2025. Thirty-six of these facilities had already cost more than £1 million ($1,346,915,00) by September 1.
Mr de Souza said the data highlighted a crisis in social care for children, where “children, many of whom are extremely vulnerable or have complex needs, are placed in poor quality care at exorbitant cost to taxpayers”.
“These 669 children must be the torchbearers of the entire system,” de Sousa added. “Getting the treatment right for them means getting the treatment right for all the children in their care.”
Following the findings, Christian charity Home for Good and Safe Families, which supports vulnerable children and families, renewed its call for churches across the UK to take a more active role in responding to the crisis.
“It is deeply concerning that, despite years of warnings, hundreds of children are still living in grossly inadequate accommodation. We stand with the Children’s Commissioner for change and remain committed to seeing all children grow up in safe, stable homes and lifelong relationships,” said Tarn Bright, co-chief executive of Home for Good and Safe Families.
The charity encourages Christians to prayerfully consider adopting, providing supported accommodation or supporting families in crisis to give families the best chance of staying together. This means living out the Biblical call to care for vulnerable children and youth.
“This report makes clear that change doesn’t come from policy alone. Change comes from people coming forward to provide care and dedicated housing,” said Sam Lomas, the charity’s head of advocacy.
“Too few foster carers, specialist carers and supported boarding house hosts means local authorities have limited options and are forced to choose between bad and bad accommodation,” said the charity, which champions relationship-based and community-based solutions.
The charity says a concrete solution is to support accommodation and provide host families for young people tagged as over 16 to help them become independent.
“This family-based scheme for young people in care and care leavers aged 16 and over is currently underused, but could be a positive solution for local authorities,” the charity added.
Home for Good and Safe Families is offering online information sessions for families who would like to learn more about options to support affected children.
