Nursery World - Holding the key

The detrimental effects homelessness wreaks on children and families are being tackled by co-operative efforts around the country. Jackie Cosh reports Approximately 900,000 children live in overcrowded accommodation in the UK, according to the housing charity Shelter.

Approximately 900,000 children live in overcrowded accommodation in the UK, according to the housing charity Shelter.

The effects of this poor housing on their health and emotional development can be enormous. Children in temporary accommodation have high levels of depression and bedwetting, are more prone to asthma and tuberculosis and are more likely to end up in hospital with burns and scalds. Many report bullying because they are unable to invite friends to their home, which can damage their ability to form relationships.

Shelter's report Generation Squalor, published last year, recommends that social services and children's agencies work more closely together with housing departments. But, despite the Children Act 2004 encouraging services to work together, there is no duty on providers to work as a team.

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