The unnamed family were shoved into Coventry's Allesley Hotel after the city council couldn't find anywhere else to put them up.
Taxpayers were forced to stump up the £13,000 hotel bill as part of a deal between council chiefs and the Salvation Army.
The Coventry Telegraph claim an estimated 595 kids in the city will spend Christmas in temporary accommodation.
The cash-strapped council has already spent £4.1m putting up families in hotels and B&Bs this year – up from just £570,000 in 2013/14.
The family's ordeal began when the mum's husband passed away in front of their entire family.
Just weeks later, the family's landlord kicked them out to sell the property.
After turning to the council, they were put in the hotel for nearly three months.
The mum said: "It was really not acceptable, it just felt like I was having to clean all the time.
"I called the council and all they could say was that they were waiting for a property, and that wasn't ready yet."
They were finally moved into a four-bed property – but this is still a temporary measure.
Her brother-in-law added: "We've had messages from other tenants. Some people seem to be in even worse situations.
"It feels like the final nail in the coffin for Coventry."
A council spokesperson said: "This is a last resort but reflects that lack of housing available to people."
Source: Read Full Article