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This study explores the critical link between housing conditions and the well-being of children in Ireland. It examines existing data sources and highlights significant issues such as overcrowding, affordability, and the effects of poor neighborhood conditions. The findings reveal alarming trends in housing quality, particularly for lone-parent households and ethnic minorities. Based on comprehensive literature and data analysis, policy recommendations are made to improve housing standards, support vulnerable families, and enhance data collection for future studies.
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Housing Problems and Irish Children The Impact of Housing on Children’s Well-being Simon Brooke Housing and social policy consultant ISPA conference 2004
Housing Problems and Irish Children • Introduction • Aims of study • Literature review • Analysis of existing data sources in Ireland • Obstacles
Aspects of housing • General health • Unintentional injuries • Lead poisoning • Asthma and respiratory disease • Overcrowding • Affordability • Neighbourhood conditions
Literature review: conclusions • Association between housing problems and well-being widely accepted • Causality not demonstrated in many aspects • Area under-researched • Difficult to determine causality • Housing conditions and environments have improved dramatically in last 100 years • Housing conditions not stable • But … perhaps not essential to demonstrate causality?
Housing Problems and Irish Children Look for: • Disrepair • Dampness • Overcrowding • Affordability • Poor neighbourhoods
Housing problems and Irish Children • Two fruitful data sources: • Local Authority Assessments of Housing Need 1991 – 2002 • Irish National Survey of Housing Quality 2001-2002
Local Authority Assessments of Housing Need 1991 – 2002 • No. of children in LAAHN doubled 1991-2002 • ~ 5.5% of all children in LAAHN in 2002 • ~ 25% of lone parent households in LAAHN compared with 2% of 2 parent households
Local Authority Assessments of Housing Need 1991 – 2002 • No. of households with affordability problems up 233% 1993 – 2002 • 2/3of all households in LAAHN had income < €10,000 p.a. • 20% of all households in LAAHN was lone parent household with one child and income < €10,000 p.a.
Irish National Survey of Housing Quality 2001-2002 Lone parent households experience particular disadvantage in housing
Irish National Survey of Housing Quality 2001-2002 Lone parent households: • Much more likely to rent from local authority • (Local authority tenants experience higher deprivation than other tenures) • More likely to experience dampness or repair problems • More likely to experience neighbourhood problems
Irish National Survey of Housing Quality 2001-2002 Lone parent households: • Much less likely to be owner-occupiers • Much more likely to claim rent supplement • Many experience affordability problems • More likely to have difficulty making ends meet
Particular groups of children • Ethnic minority children • Traveller children • Children in homeless families
Conclusions Four groups affected by relevant conditions: • Children of lone parents in LA housing • Children of 2 parents in LA housing • Children of lone parents in PRS • Children of 2 parents in PRS
Policy recommendations 1/4 • Better data collection in future • Private Rented Residential Tenancies Board • LAAHN • Ethnic monitoring • QNHS • National Longitudinal Study
Policy recommendations 2/4 • Improve quality of LA housing • Abolish remedial works scheme and establish sinking fund • Improve quality of PRS • Higher standards • Better enforcement by Las
Policy recommendations 3/4 • Improve neighbourhoods • Reduce residualisation • Fund multi-disciplinary estate-based management and tenant participation • Consult children • Increase supply of social rented housing • Expenditure should continue to increase
Policy recommendations 4/4 • Minimise affordability problems for lone parent households • Rent supplement • National Children’s Strategy • Raise status of housing