How Poor Housing Can Affect A Child's Well-Being
Poor housing can have a terrible impact on a child’s life and this is an issue which we see in all four corners of the globe. There is a general school of thought that if a child has a home then they will be alright - but simply because they are not homeless, doesn’t automatically mean that they have a great life. In fact, poor housing conditions such as overcrowding or living in low quality buildings which have damp and maintenance issues, can cause huge issues for a child’s wellbeing. Housing company Brenex Property Developments have been researching this lately and some of the information we are seeing is very troubling.
This is what poor housing can do to a child:
Breathing Difficulties
Mold exists because of dampness in the property, this could be caused by a lack of air circulation, leaking pipes or poorly sealed windows and doors. When there is moisture in the air it causes great damage to young lungs and we see many youngsters who have breathing conditions such as asthma as a result of this. Breathing in air in this environment means the breathing in of mold spores and they cause allergic and respiratory issues, especially for kids.
Higher Risks of Infection
Cold and damp conditions at home, poor nutrition and living in close proximity to others means a poor immune system to fight off infections and disease. We also see many conditions go untreated through a lack of money and that too has a big effect on kids living in these kinds of conditions.
Mental Health Issues
Recent studies by Shelter UK indicate that a child is 3 to 4 times more likely to have mental health problems if they are living in poor housing conditions. Anxiety and depression are two of the most common issues here and these can very often be directly correlated with kids who live in low quality housing, and overcrowded housing.
Educational Problems
A lack of space to carry out homework, poor natural light and a lack of healthy social interaction can all be linked to difficulties with education. Kids living in these types of situations are more likely to have slow cognitive development, to have issues such as hyperactivity or aggression and very often these are the kids who miss more school as a result of the aforementioned illnesses and infections.
Cyclical Issues
On a broader level these kids are also highly likely to repeat the steps which their parents have taken with regards to the type of housing in which they are living. This is down to a lack of ambition and genuine awareness of living under different conditions. There is often a lack of self-belief that occurs in these kids and that is why they are destined to repeat history when they have kids.
This is a huge issue and we must ensure that fit and proper housing is available to everyone regardless of their economic situation.
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If you wish to learn more about Brenex and what they do, you can visit them at https://brenexpropertydevelopments.com.au/ for more information.