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Reducing the health, social and educational harms of overcrowding in Newham

Research context and summary

LSE Housing and Communities are working with the London Borough of Newham on a research project to identify practical and measurable ways of reducing the health, social, and educational harms of living in overcrowded households.

The research will look at the impact of overcrowding on families living in social and private rental accommodation, and include families living in temporary accommodation in the borough. This project will run from January to November 2023.

We are looking to speak to households with children under 18, living in overcrowded homes in the London Borough of Newham for this study.

Methodology

  • The research team will undertake an analysis of the data on overcrowding in Newham, to build a picture of where in the borough, and what types of households, are most likely to experience overcrowding.

  • A literature review will explore the harms of overcrowding on families, particularly in terms of health, social and educational harms, as well as looking at the types of mitigation actions that can help families living in overcrowded homes.

  • We will then begin to interview residents within Newham who are experiencing overcrowding, to understand in their own words, the impacts that overcrowding has on their mental and physical health, and social wellbeing, and on children and young people's education. We will also gather ideas of what would most help families to mitigate or reduce some of these harms. These interviews will take place in Newham, in community centres, libraries, etc. and should take around one hour.

  • From the interviews, we will develop anonymised case studies of families living in, or experiencing, overcrowding in the London Borough of Newham.

  • We will also hold focus groups with key stakeholders, charities, groups, third-sector partners, and service users from Newham, to explore the scope of overcrowding in the borough, what is already happening to mitigate some of the harms, and what could be improved within the borough's service provision to support families experiencing overcrowding.

Outputs

  • Pulling together the interviews, data analysis, and literature review, we will develop recommendations for practical and feasible actions that the London Borough of Newham can take to reduce the harms of overcrowding within the borough.

  • We will write our findings, life stories, and recommendations up in to a full report, and also prepare an accessible summary and presentation slides of the main findings and recommendations.

Participate

If you would like to take part in this study, or receive updates about the research project please sign up here or scan the QR code:

QR code for sign up for updates form at https://formsmarts.com/form/2ap0

You can also contact Jessica Horne Rowan, email J.Rowan1@lse.ac.uk for further information.

Main Image credit: Flats, Upton Gardens, Newham By Abdul on Adobe Stock. https://stock.adobe.com/uk/images/london-united-kingdom-january-04-2021-new-modern-apartment-block-of-flats-on-the-green-street-upton-gardens-former-site-of-west-ham-football-ground-upton-park-newham/403079657?prev_url=detail (Standard licence. Downloaded 22/04/2023)