As part of our work leading the Fix the Five Basics campaign in Lambeth, IRMO hosted a community lunch bringing together local decision-makers and members of our community with lived experience of temporary accommodation.
We were pleased to be joined by Cllr Danny Adilypour, Deputy Leader of Lambeth Council and Cabinet Member for Housing, as well as Marina Ahmad AM, London Assembly Member for Lambeth and Southwark.
The event created space for IRMO service users to share their experiences of living in temporary accommodation, including the challenges of not having access to basic essentials in their placements. These testimonies highlighted the gap between existing provision and the reality faced by many families.
During the session, we invited Cllr Adilypour to commit to the Five Basics — a set of practical, achievable standards that all temporary accommodation should meet. These include:
- access to facilities to cook hot meals
- affordable ways to wash clothes
- reliable internet connection
- safe storage for personal belongings
- clear information and communication about rights, repairs and next steps
Cllr Adilypour acknowledged the importance of these standards and committed to exploring how Lambeth can ensure the consistent implementation of all Five Basics across temporary accommodation. He also agreed to continue engaging with IRMO to better understand where gaps in provision remain and how these can be addressed in practice.
While the council noted that many of these elements are already intended to be in place, the discussion highlighted the need to ensure they are delivered consistently for all residents.
We welcomed this commitment and look forward to continuing to work with Lambeth Council and regional leaders to improve conditions for families in temporary accommodation.
