Tips for living in emergency accommodation

[Surviving2025]

Hi this is my first post here. Im in the process of leaving my husband, I have reached out for support and am in contact with the council for housing. Looks like im going to be put in emergency accommodation and I’m aware that this can be a hotel room so was just wondering if those that have been through it before have any tips on how they coped with children im such a confined space and any ideas on things I could do for food if all I have is a kettle and no fridge? Once I’ve been through it myself and have any extra ideas to add I will update this post

Many thanks

[Lisa]

Hi Surviving2025,

Welcome to the forum and thank you for sharing with us. I hope you find the forum a safe and supportive place to be with others who understand. I am sure others will be able to relate to your post and have had similar concerns about emergency accommodation.

If you feel like you are in need of some additional support and to talk things through, you could chat to a Women’s Aid worker in confidence via our Live Chat service currently open 10am-4pm Monday to Friday. They won’t tell you what to do, but can discuss your situation and signpost you to other support that’s relevant for you. You can access the chat service here.

Do keep posting to let us know how you’re getting on.

Best wishes,

Lisa
Forum Moderator

[Twisted Sister]

Hi Surviving2025

My first thought is that your children, and yourself, would have a lot more support and engagement-type activities if you were able to go into Refuge, and although life in any of these situations can be chaotic, Refuge is more actively managed with focus on protections for women and children.

Generally in a small hotel room with children you are reliant on any other spaces for guest use that may be available and outdoor space, either as part of the hotel or outdoor public spaces.  Lots of indoor crafts, and access to tv/audio, whether thats taking some of your own devices, that you can attach to the tv to watch (not trying to advocate any kind of reliance on devices and internet for children, but more of a family entertainment share viewing thing), or if you have a small dvd player that you can attach to your room telly.  Think the same as you would on any rainy day stuck indoors, but more focussed on shared entertainment whilst going through this big transition to aid closeness and sense of available support for them.  Reading I have always found to be a great positive for kids, of all ages frankly, not restricting it to just the smallies, as I’ve found even the older kids still love to relax and listen to mum reading an age appropriate adventure/story, and is great to unwinding for bed in a small space.

As for food, are you able to get any kind of single plug-in hob plate, and one multipurpose pan, there are single induction hob plates out there now that are great for heating individual and family meals provided you have the right pan, and there’s minimal risk in terms of having the intense heat of something like an electric ring, or any form of gas, so safer for a small setting, maybe a microwave? It would increase your options substantially,and very easy to steam all sorts of veg v. quickly and easily in a microwave.

There’s lots that could be useful for a small setting, but would be a huge post!  Suggest maybe source a book for living on a budget in small spaces?  Possibly research your nearest library for suggestions as to whether they have a specific category and particular recommendations.  I know many do have plenty of such resources.

Very best of luck and energy for your upcoming move and better times ahead for you all.

warmest wishes

ts

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