Squalid Ikea doll’s house exposes shocking reality of child homelessness

In collaboration with housing charity Shelter, IKEA has created a squalid doll’s house to shed light on the grim reality faced by thousands of children.

The miniature house has been reimagined to mirror the shocking conditions of temporary accommodation – a far cry from the safe, stable environment every child deserves.

The installation is a stark reminder that such environments are not just unsuitable for play, but unthinkable to live in.

More than 151,000 children in England are currently homeless and living in temporary accommodation, according to a shocking new report which highlights the appalling conditions many children are forced to endure, with issues like damp, mould, overcrowding, infestations, and serious safety hazards.

The campaign calls on the UK government to take urgent action.

For the next two weeks, the ‘Unwelcome Home’ doll’s houses will be on display in IKEA stores in Wembley, Manchester and Birmingham plus the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool.

Members of the public are encouraged to join the campaign by signing an open letter to the government and using an online postcode tool to see the scale of the housing crisis in their local area.

Hiliary Jenkins, partnerships lead at Ikea UK and Ireland, said: “Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. Families homeless in temporary accommodation face insecurity, cramped conditions and sometimes serious hazards, which is unacceptable. Alongside Shelter, we’re shining a light on the horrifying conditions experienced by families who are stuck in homeless accommodation that is proving to be anything but temporary. Our ‘Unwelcome home’ dolls’ houses are there to encourage customers to take a closer look at the issues right on their doorsteps, as we call on the government to build a new generation of social rent homes for families, to help tackle the housing emergency.”

To find out more and support the campaign, visit: ikea.co.uk/shelter.

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