Before lockdown, I would stay in cheap hotels relatively often - eg Travelodge, our form of motel. One bed, a TV, a teasmaid.

There would generally be two types of common guests. Workmen in the area to build something, tradespeople, or those the council was housing.

Typically it would be a mum and a couple of kids, up in the morning by 8am in their school uniform. These places don't serve food, and you'd see people leave with a couple of bags or boxes, as they get shunted elsewhere.

I'm glad they were not out on the street, but it broke my heart every time I saw it. I could well understand a parent thinking that a stable location would be better than shifting from one B&B to another. The lack of social housing is a genuine disgrace, and these resi conversions are absolutely not the answer.

Is this a joke? They’re very poor people. They don’t have choices like presumably you do.

Because they can't afford to. Housing in and around London is very much Not Cheap.

This reminds me of that Ben Shapiro quote that goes something like "If sea levels rise, do you think people won't just sell their house and move?"

How can people these people move? Especially if they own these places.

I believe from my reading that it's government housing.

As in: You would are poor and qualify for housing assistance. Here is your housing.

What most people might be envisioning is more of a stipend system, where you can live wherever you want, and the government just gives you money towards rent.

I believe this is more of a prescribed housing situation.

Moving costs money. These are council (government) provided houses for those on low incomes. Basically, they don't have a real choice to move.

Let them eat cake!