Poor housing damages relationships between children and their mothers, study says

Effects of cold, cramped and damp homes laid out in report

The longer children spend in poor housing, the worse their well-being, according to ESRI report. Photo: Getty

Ellen Coyne

Children as young as nine have more conflict and less closeness with their mothers due to the stress of living in houses that are too cold or too small.

Research published today by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) shows the effect poor housing is having on the welfare of children and their parents.