Summary
The government plans to stop children from living in bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) and make childcare more accessible for families on Universal Credit. The goal is to reduce child poverty significantly, aiming to lift 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030. However, experts warn that economic uncertainty could affect how much poverty is actually reduced.
Key Facts
- The government aims to end the practice of children living in B&Bs as part of its child poverty strategy.
- The measures could potentially lift around 550,000 children out of poverty by 2030.
- The Institute for Fiscal Studies cautions that economic uncertainty may impact the success of these policies.
- Current child poverty levels are high, with 4.5 million children in relative poverty after housing costs.
- The strategy includes ending the two-child benefit cap and expanding free school meals.
- Over 172,000 children in England live in temporary accommodation.
- Councils are required to stop placing families with children in B&Bs for more than six weeks.
- The government plans to build 5,000 new homes for temporary accommodation by 2020.
