The Full House survey interviewed 505 households living in overcrowdedhomes across England. It found that in three quarters of overcrowdedfamilies, children have to share a bedroom with their parents and thatin one in 10 of these households, teenagers of the opposite sex have tosleep in the same room. In 27 per cent of overcrowded homes, childrensleep in rooms other than bedrooms such as the kitchen or livingroom.
Hazel Ann Parsons, children's campaign manager at Shelter, described theeffects of overcrowded living as "devastating".
"It's immensely stressful living in cramped quarters," she said."Families tell us more accidents occur and they have a high incidence ofdepression."
She called for the Government to build more social housing.
- www.shelter-hosting.org.uk/fullhouse.
