Cramped living linked to drop-out rate, poverty

North Clondalkin development planThe life chances of children and young people living in overcrowded homes are seriously impeded by constant physical and psychological strains, according to a new report.

The investigation into overcrowding at family homes in Dublin's north Clondalkin found children dwelling in cramped conditions tended to drop out of school earlier, thereby contributing to unemployment and homelessness.

A series of case studies illustrated the "serious effects" of overcrowding on children's emotional and social development.

"The physical and psychological strain involved for children leaving a chaotic household to go to school in the morning, coupled with lack of space for homework, can lead to a detachment from school and learning and an inability to keep up with their peers," it says.

"For many young adults their only solution to getting out of an overcrowded situation is to become homeless. Because of the cumulative effects of overcrowding on their personal, social and educational development, many have left school early with poor (or no) qualifications, are unemployed or in low-paid jobs and have little prospect of moving into independent accommodation.

"Although those who are single with no children are eligible to put their names on the housing list, their priority is so low that many see it as a fruitless exercise," it points out.

The report, commissioned by the North Clondalkin Community Development Programme and funded by the Combat Poverty Agency, also highlights the manner in which overcrowding damages family relationships, as well as contributing to family isolation and stress.

"A sense of living with a time-bomb is what comes to mind as those interviewed describe the 'suffocation' of so many people living at such close quarters, their lack of privacy at any time, and the constant rows and arguments which can erupt over the smallest incident," the report notes.

It recommends that access to decent housing be made "a basic human right", and that local authorities develop systems to monitor levels of overcrowding. It also calls for local authority allocation systems to be restructured to provide for a greater range of accommodation needs, including those of young single adults.

In addition, local Traveller accommodation programmes should be implemented as a matter of urgency.

The study says there is no definitive information on the level of overcrowding in north Clondalkin, in part because of under-reporting.

It notes there are 5,528 applications, representing 15,417 people, on South Dublin County Council's housing waiting lists, and this number continues to grow.

Up to 400 Traveller families in Clondalkin are also in need of accommodation, the report says.