Inadequate social housing affecting children’s health

child looking sad - An inadequate level of social housing across London is affecting children's physical and mental health, and could permanently hinder their development, according to the latest Marmot Review from the UCL Institute of Health Equity (IHE). The report, a rapid evidence review of interventions to address housing and health issues in the capital, highlights that there are over 75,000 children under 18 who are homeless and living in temporary accommodation in London. That's because of the severe shortage of good quality and affordable housing in London, particularly social housing, which forces many people to live in unsafe, insecure or unaffordable homes. Professor Sir Michael Marmot, Director, UCL Institute of Health Equity, said: "This is an unacceptable state-of-affairs as it blights children's future permanently. Our homes provide the living environment that dictates our future health. We know that living in cold, damp and mouldy homes leads to lung damage in children and impairs their development. "Children are less likely to be able to do their homework if their home is cold and overcrowded, leading to them falling behind at school.