Home, sweet home

The September issue of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health includes some articles on the relationship between housing and ill-health.  One study considers the effect of cumulative exposure to housing affordability stress and its association with poorer mental health, while another looks at the impact of housing improvement on common childhood illnesses amongst Indigenous Australian communities.  A new report from the UK Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) assesses routes for preventing homelessness.  Making Every Contact Count sets out nine "local challenges," including limiting use of bed and breakfast accomodation (especially for young people and families), adopting a No Second Night Out model and offering a housing options prevention service.  Supporting this strategy there is an evidence review on the cost of homelessness;  DCLG has also released current statistics on homelessness prevention and relief.