Christian charity Home for Good and Safe Families has renewed its call for churches to take action after new figures showed hundreds of children are still being housed in illegal accommodation across England.
Responding to the latest report from the Children’s Commissioner for England, the charity said the findings exposed a system under extreme strain.
As of the 1st September 2025, 669 children in care were living in illegal and unregistered settings, including caravans, Airbnb's and holiday homes, with councils spending an estimated £353M pounds on such placements.
Tarn Bright, the co-CEO of the Christian charity, Home for Good and Safe Families said: "It is deeply concerning that, despite years of warnings, hundreds of children are still living in extremely inappropriate accommodation. We stand with the Children’s Commissioner in calling for change, and we remain committed to seeing every child grow up in a safe, stable home with lifelong relationships.”
Speaking to Premier Christian News, Sam Lomas, head of advocacy at Home for Good and Safe Families, said many of the settings were “unregistered accommodation for children” and questioned why they were being used at all.
He said the problem stemmed from a “chronic shortage of family-based care”, leaving local authorities “choosing between bad and worse placements”.
Lomas said the lack of stable homes led to poorer outcomes across education, health and employment, adding that children in care needed “a safe, stable, loving home with a trusted adult by their side”.
He also highlighted the financial cost, noting the Commissioner had identified placements costing more than one million pounds per child, while foster care was both cheaper and delivered better outcomes.
As a Christian charity, Home for Good and Safe Families called on churches to respond with prayer and practical action.
Lomas urged Christians to consider fostering, supported lodgings or adoption, saying the Church is “central” to ensuring every child has a home where they could flourish.