Project Description
1 in 4 London families say their home does not have enough space for their children to safely play and move
Research from Home-Start London highlights the profound impact of the capital’s housing crisis on young children and their parents.
Co-produced with Home-Start families, the research explores the experiences of 350 families with under-fives across London. It shows that London’s housing crisis is a childhood crisis affecting children’s safety, development and family wellbeing.
More than half (58%) of families told us their housing situation was negatively affecting their wellbeing.
“We are always being moved from temporary accommodation. In two years, we’ve had to move six times. Every time I get an email from the housing officer, I feel so anxious. I’m a single parent with two kids and have no support. Every time we move, we don’t know the area, we need to find new schools and new friends – it has a big impact on my children.”
– Parent in temporary accommodation
London’s housing crisis is a childhood crisis
For too many families with babies and young children in London, home is not a place of safety and opportunity. It is a source of stress, instability and poor health that is affecting children’s futures.
● A quarter of families (25%) say their child does not have enough space to play safely.
● Nearly three in ten families (29%) are living in overcrowded homes, while one in five (20%) are dealing with damp, mould or pests.
● 61% of our families experiencing housing problems say these issues are affecting their mental health, and 43% say they are making parenting harder.
● 65% of families experiencing housing issues say these are affecting their children, particularly their safety (34%), health (30%), and learning and development (23%).
“My son is a very active boy. He’s been trying to walk since he was 8 or 9 months old. But that was a huge challenge. Where is he walking in our flat? Nowhere. There’s no space for him to walk, so he would try to get on top of tables, chairs, and climb the Kallax unit. I had to constantly grab him and put him back in his rocking chair, crying. It was so challenging.” – Parent in council housing
Families are doing all they can, but feel powerless
Parents described spending significant time trying to resolve housing problems. They felt they were not receiving responses, being taken seriously, or getting their housing problems resolved. For 61% of parents, housing problems were harming their mental health, while 43% said they were making it harder to parent.
“Every time I speak to the council… I feel like they’re already trying to back themselves up and defend themselves. I’m just another number. That’s what I feel like. I feel like there’s no sympathy or empathy in it anymore. Everything is just about legal requirements.” – Parent in council housing
Families are also facing extreme financial hardship
Almost a third (32%) of families meet our definition of destitution. Families were making difficult choices to get by: 28% had used a food or baby bank and 21% had skipped meals or eaten less. Poor housing could create further costs, making it harder to provide the home and experiences they wanted for their children.
Financial hardship is not just about going without food, heating or other basic essentials. For many families, it also affects their children’s ability to take part in everyday activities, socialise and access opportunities that support their development. Parents described having to say no to things their children wanted or being unable to afford activities they felt were important for their children.
“You don’t use too much toilet roll because we sometimes can’t afford it, and the same with water. We squeeze ourselves for our needs, so we can provide for the kids. Sometimes it’s not nice and pleasant, but you have to do it. You have no choice.” – Parent in council housing
Housing problems add to families’ existing pressure
Some families face greater financial and housing hardship. For single-parent families, 46% meet our definition of destitution (compared to 17% of two-parent families). Housing problems affect 76% of parents with a disability or long-term health condition (compared to 45% of other parents). When children have SEND, nearly half (48%) reported safety concerns (compared to 25% of other families).
“I’ve been trying to create time for my children, and you want to create time for yourself, and I also have to deal with this housing issue. It can be really draining…I have to pay the bills, being a single mum, the present mum, the working mum, the everything mum. Oh my God, it’s draining.”
– Parent in council housing, East London
Home-Start stands alongside families, but cannot solve the housing crisis
The study highlights the vital role Home-Start plays in supporting families through some of the most challenging periods of their lives. Parents told us that the trusting relationships they build with our volunteers and staff help them to speak honestly about what they’re going through, without fear of judgement. Among families who had received Home-Start support for three months or more:
● 88% reported improved mental health and wellbeing.
● 84% felt better able to support their child’s development.
● 90% had accessed additional support through Home-Start.
Recommendations
“London’s housing crisis is taking more than a safe, affordable place to live away from families. Families are telling us that trying to solve their housing problems is a constant drain on their time and energy. Instead of time with their children, they are having to chase repairs, clean mould, or prepare to move for the third time in as many months. We heard from parents working hard to keep their families afloat, often through personal sacrifice and incredible determination and resourcefulness.
“This research shows the importance of emotional and practical support for families navigating incredibly difficult circumstances due to London’s housing crisis, alongside urgent action to improve housing supply, affordability and standards. Until every family has a safe place to live, families should not have to face these challenges alone.”
Esther Sample, Director Home-Start LondonWe have made six recommendations for policymakers, grounded in what families have told us, and in the lived experiences of those we support every day.
“Parents work incredibly hard to create safe and secure homes for their children, but too often the systems meant to help can make an already difficult situation even harder. Right now, too many families in London are living this reality. We hope this report helps people understand not only the scale of the housing challenges facing families with young children, but also the real impact they can have on parents, children and family life.”
You can read the full report here.