Teen campaigner rallies support for housing plans

A teenage campaigner is urging residents to back plans for new council homes in parts of Brighton as it faces a growing shortage of social housing.

Scarlett, 15, has been leafletting Woodingdean to raise awareness of the reality of family homelessness and the impact of living in emergency and temporary accommodation.

"Many people don't realise the conditions some families face, from overcrowded rooms to damp and mould that can make children ill," she said.

Brighton and Hove City Council says it is investing £10m to buy more temporary homes and is working to create long-term affordable housing.

It has also announced plans to use empty council properties as short-term accommodation to reduce reliance on private landlords.

However, with £28m allocated for temporary accommodation for 2025-26, the local authority expects a significant overspend as family homelessness reaches a four-year high.

Scarlett, who has been busking since she was eight, has raised more than £10,000 for homelessness causes.

"Constant moves between homes, schools and friendship groups can have a lasting effect on children's mental health," she said.

She has also set up her own charity, Mission:Home, using online videos to share the stories of families living in emergency and temporary housing.

One of those families is Jade, who spent five years without a permanent home with her two young children.

During that time, they were moved six times, often into cramped and unsafe accommodation.

Jade said when they were moved from place to place, it was "very unsettling".

"At one time we were living in a single room with no privacy, dealing with mice, discarded needles outside the property and frequent disturbances from neighbours," she said.

"With rents rising faster than wages, more families will soon face the same situation, where will they go?"

Homelessness charity Justlife said demand for support has "never been greater".

It warned that growing up in temporary accommodation increased the risk of homelessness later in life, making the need for safe, permanent homes more urgent than ever.

A public consultation for the council's plans to build four homes to support families in Woodingdean closes on 3 February, and Scarlett hopes people will support the proposal.

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