As Founder and Chair of the Offsite Alliance, I am passionate about finding solutions to the housing crisis, so last night’s conversation with my daughter, Belle, took on a deeper meaning.
Belle, came home excitedly chattering about her Duke of Edinburgh Award and finding a volunteering opportunity.. As we sat together, discussing some of the ideas, the news was on, highlighting the stories and lived experiences of families in temporary accommodation—something we’ve been following closely. In true teenage girl fashion, the conversation turned from her volunteering plans to the bigger picture—and, that inevitably, got me on to the New Homes in New Ways Summit.
It struck me, as we talked, that these conversations at home—about ambition, community, and a drive to make a difference—are the same conversations we need to be having at scale. The housing crisis in the UK isn’t just about homes; it’s about hope, security, and the ability to dream of a better future.
We’re so fortunate to have a home—a place where we can laugh together, share meals, and just feel safe. Sitting with Belle, it hit me how much we take that for granted. We’re blessed to have the stability of a family network, a space where we can be ourselves and thrive.
But then sat together we imagined—what if we didn’t have that stability? What if we didn’t have a home? What if we lived in a hotel, in a single room, with nowhere to call our own?
Belle, curious and compassionate as ever, asked, “Mum, how does that even happen? Why can’t they have a home? And how do they even go to school?”
Her questions cut deep because they’re the kind of questions no child should have to ask. How do you explain to a 14-year-old that, in one of the richest countries in the world, more than 151,000 children in England are living in temporary accommodation? That these children, like Belle, often lose their schools, their friends, their routines—all because the housing system has failed them?
What If It Were Us?
We talked about what it would be like to pack up our lives into a suitcase, not knowing where we’d be sent next. To live in a single room, sharing a bathroom and a kitchen with strangers, and to have no idea when we’d finally have a place to settle.
Belle couldn’t get past the idea of not going to school. “Mum, if I didn’t have a home, how would I even study? I wouldn’t see my friends. How would I do my GCSEs?” Her voice was filled with disbelief—and she’s right. How can we expect young people to thrive when they’re denied the stability they need to grow?
The Human Toll
This isn’t just a distant problem; it’s happening now, all around us. Over 151,000 children in England are living in temporary accommodation. That’s 151,000 young people without a safe space to study, to sleep, or to simply be themselves. It’s heart breaking to think of children like Belle, full of dreams and potential, being held back by something as basic as not having a home. And it’s not just the children—it’s their parents, who are doing everything they can to hold their families together in impossible circumstances.
Belle’s Empathy, Our Responsibility
Belle’s questions stayed with me long after our conversation. Her heart broke at the idea of missing school and feeling lost, and she kept asking, “Why can’t someone just fix it?” And honestly, isn’t that the question we all should be asking?
Because this isn’t inevitable. It’s the result of a broken system—and we can fix it.
A Call to Action: Let’s Do Better
At the New Homes in New Ways Summit, we’re bringing together people who believe in bold solutions and meaningful action. This isn’t just about building houses; it’s about building lives. It’s about giving children like Belle—and the 151,000 who don’t have her security—the chance to thrive.
It’s about making sure no parent has to worry about where their child will sleep or how they’ll keep their family together. It’s about ensuring every child can stay in school, dream big, and believe in a future that feels full of possibility.
Belle reminded me last night that we’re all capable of imagining a better world. Now, it’s up to us to create it.
Let’s do it—for those 151,000 children, and for every family who deserves a place to call home.
Book your ticket now and join us in the fight to be bold and do better.
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