By Vivienne Russell
1 February 2010
The shortage of affordable housing has left families isolated, fractured and reliant on expensive care options, according to a housing charity.
Research from Shelter published today showed that a total of 3 million adults say they are unable to look after their elderly parents or grandchildren because soaring housing costs mean they cannot afford to live near them.
Kay Boycott, director of policy and campaigns at Shelter, said: ‘Many families desperately need the support and care of relatives but the current housing crisis is making it impossible for family members to support each other in the way they want to do.’
A single room in a private residential home costs an average of £24,500 per year, Shelter noted, while costs can rise to more than £35,000 for a room in a nursing home. A nursery place for a child under the age of two typically costs more than £8,000 per year.
‘It seems a false economy not to invest in affordable housing when the cost of elderly care and childcare is so high,’ Boycott said.
1 February 2010
The shortage of affordable housing has left families isolated, fractured and reliant on expensive care options, according to a housing charity.
Research from Shelter published today showed that a total of 3 million adults say they are unable to look after their elderly parents or grandchildren because soaring housing costs mean they cannot afford to live near them.
Kay Boycott, director of policy and campaigns at Shelter, said: ‘Many families desperately need the support and care of relatives but the current housing crisis is making it impossible for family members to support each other in the way they want to do.’
A single room in a private residential home costs an average of £24,500 per year, Shelter noted, while costs can rise to more than £35,000 for a room in a nursing home. A nursery place for a child under the age of two typically costs more than £8,000 per year.
‘It seems a false economy not to invest in affordable housing when the cost of elderly care and childcare is so high,’ Boycott said.
