Children in bad housing face lifelong disadvantage
Behind lovely buildings with exquisite architecture and history there are one million children in England living in bad housing, according to the latest figures.
“I waited in bed and breakfast for four years with my first baby girl,” says lone parent Tanya Murphy from Bournemouth.
“It is still stressful to remember those days. My baby had to learn walking in an overcrowded, filthy room,” she adds.
The latest report by Shelter – published in 2006 –reveals shocking facts, saying hundreds of thousands of children are living in homes that are too small to allow them space to sleep comfortably, to enjoy normal standards of hygiene and privacy, or even room to do their homework.
Moreover, tens of thousands of children are being forced to live for years under the shadow of eviction, being moved from one temporary home to another, often without a permanent home for months or even years.
Besides, hundreds of thousands are trapped in homes that are dilapidated, damp or dangerous, which increases the risk of severe ill-health or disability by up to 25 per cent during childhood and early adulthood.
Save the Children spokesperson Rachel Bhatia says: “There is evidence that children in bad housing where it’s cold and they can’t afford to have heaters on they may suffer more badly from asthma. They are at a higher risk of suffering mental health problems and problems with behaviour.”
The report by Shelter says: “The Government’s Every Child Matters programme promises to improve life outcomes for children in areas such as health, safety, enjoyment, achievement and economic well-being. Despite the ambitious nature of these commitments, public policy has paid little attention to the impact of bad housing on children’s lives.”
Department for Children, Schools and Families were not available to comment on this argument.
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