In Focus: Poor housing puts children's lives at risk

The impact on children and families of overcrowding, of mould and cold, can be life-threatening. Bristol and Western Health Authority, for example, has found that overcrowding increases the likelihood of life-threatening diseases such as meningitis among children. The National Child Development Study has found that babies grow more slowly and have a greater risk of malformation when they do not have enough space.

Despite these concerns, and the right to acceptable housing being enshrined in every social contract from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to the Human Rights Act 1998, it is clear that without concerted action from national and local government, housing in the UK will never meet many families’ needs.

The decades after World War Two saw massive public building programmes. The social drive and political will to provide so many good homes must be regained. Those families most in need would benefit. The UK economy would benefit.

There is a clear need for decision makers to embrace pragmatic investment in new and refurbished housing to ensure that families living in substandard accommodation are assisted. Housing, and the link between children’s life chances and their living circumstances, must be acknowledged in all decisions affecting children and families.

• Anne Longfield is chief executive of 4 Children


In depth: Families lack support when facing housing crises

More than a million children in England live in poor quality housing. If left unaddressed, issues of housing quality, capacity and affordability will continue to blight the