CHILDREN SHARING BEDS DUE TO OVERCROWDING

Research has revealed that more than 15,000 children in Bristol and surrounding areas lack the space they need to live and thrive. These young people, teenagers and parents are all suffering due to the critical shortage of affordable housing.

Quarter of these families are unable to sleep in a bedroom, while 48% cannot comfortably do their homework in their home. This overcrowding can have severe impacts on mental and physical well-being.

Often overcrowding is caused when too many individuals - such as two children under 10, two teenagers of different sexes or two adults not in a relationshipoccupy one room. The National Housing Federation reported this issue and called for solutions to give everyone a safe place to call home.

It said 4.2 million people in England are also in need of social housing, including the homeless.

The report said a severe lack of social housing was the main cause of overcrowding, with larger accommodation unavailable and unaffordable for affected families.

The National Housing Federation cited budget cuts to funding for social housing in 2010 as a key reason for the shortage of affordable homes - last year 7,528 social rent homes were built, 81% fewer than in 2010.

Overcrowded families living in privately rented homes, where fees are sometimes double that of social housing, made up a third of those living in unsuitable accommodation.

The National Housing Federation states 90,000 affordable homes would have to be built each year to meet existing demand and house those in need.

Chief executive of The National Housing Federation Kate Henderson said in a online statement

“overcrowded homes can have a devastating impact on a child’s self-esteem, wellbeing, and future life changes, as well as affecting family relationships and making it harder for parents to nurture their child’s growth”.

It’s unacceptable for anyone to be living in an overcrowded home and councils have a duty to find people living in these conditions somewhere fit for purpose.