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 Disrepair Dampness Overcrowding Affordability Poor neighbourhoods Look for:

Housing problems and Irish Children Two fruitful data sources: –Local Authority Assessments of Housing Need 1991 – 2002 –Irish National Survey of Housing Quality

Local Authority Assessments of Housing Need 1991 – 2002 No. of children in LAAHN doubled ~ 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 – /3 of 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 Lone parent households experience particular disadvantage in housing

Irish National Survey of Housing Quality 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 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 oPrivate Rented Residential Tenancies Board oLAAHN oEthnic monitoring oQNHS oNational Longitudinal Study

Policy recommendations 2/4 Improve quality of LA housing oAbolish remedial works scheme and establish sinking fund Improve quality of PRS oHigher standards oBetter enforcement by Las

Policy recommendations 3/4 Improve neighbourhoods oReduce residualisation oFund multi-disciplinary estate-based management and tenant participation oConsult children Increase supply of social rented housing oExpenditure should continue to increase

Policy recommendations 4/4 Minimise affordability problems for lone parent households oRent supplement National Children’s Strategy oRaise status of housing