A ban on placing homeless families in bed and breakfast for more
than six weeks will come into force next year.
From April 2004, legislation will give families the power to take
councils to court if they are placed in a B&B for more than six
weeks.
The government also wants to improve standards of temporary
accommodation and ensure homeless families receive support to
access health, education and social services.
Housing minister Yvette Cooper said it was "simply unacceptable"
that homeless families should spend long periods in conditions with
little room for children to play, exercise, make friends or do
homework.
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"It is one of the worst manifestations of social exclusion," she
said. "The decision to outlaw the excessive use of B&B will
ensure we don't return to the days when children living in hotels,
for months and even years, was all too commonplace."
Adam Sampson, director of homelessness charity Shelter, said it
would end the "misery" of long-term B&B accommodation for
families.
