FOI request (FOIR-669640089)

Temporary Accommodation for children under 2, cots access

Requested Wed 11 December 2024
Responded Tue 24 December 2024

According to two clauses added to the 'Homelessness code of guidance for local authorities' by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (under its old name of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) in February 2024, 'accommodation will not be suitable for a household with children under the age of 2 if there is not adequate space for a cot for each child aged under 2', and 'where households with babies and young children under 2 do not have access to a cot when placed in temporary accommodation, housing authorities should consider what support is available for the provision of a cot.'

With this in mind, please tell me:

1. How many temporary accommodation is the council using as of today's date to accommodate households with at least one child under the age of two?

Of these units, as of today's date:

2. How many have been assessed as having adequate space for a cot?

3. How many have been assessed as NOT having adequate space for a cot?

4. How many have not been assessed for whether or not there is space for a cot?

5. How many families with children aged under two at the time of placement have been placed in temporary accommodation since February 2024?

6. Of these, how many families did not have their own cots and what provisions was the council able to make for them? (This information can be supplied as totals - for instance, X number of households had a cot provided, Y number of households were given guidance on how to obtain a cot, and so on.)

Response

1. 73 (as at 23/12/2024)

2-4.

For nightly paid temporary accommodation: Clients with children are always asked if they have a cot for the children, if they don't they are placed in appropriate TA that provides a cot for use. We do not monitor how many clients have used a cot provided by the temporary accommodation. All placements that are made that require a cot have adequate space for a cot: For Hastings Borough Council owned/managed temporary accommodation we will ensure that there is adequate space for a cot for children under 2 in our TA properties. Households will be provided with a cot if required. We do not have a record of cots purchased for current households in TA.

5. 101

6. See 2-4 above.