A new, freely available digital resource has been launched to share families’ lived experiences of housing insecurity.
Across the UK, many families lack a stable, safe and affordable place to live. Housing insecurity can mean living in overcrowded or poor-quality conditions, facing frequent moves, or living with the constant fear of losing your home. This instability affects nearly every aspect of daily life, with serious consequences for both parents’ and children’s health and wellbeing.
As part of the NIHR School for Public Health Research project Living with Housing Insecurity, researchers collaborated with artist Maisy Summer to create Far from Home, an illustrated report that brings these experiences to life. Drawing on qualitative interviews with parents and children living in London, South Yorkshire and the North West, the report presents their stories in an engaging and accessible way.
The project aimed to understand what information would best help local authorities support families at risk of housing insecurity, and to explore how existing strategies could be improved and evaluated.
By centring the voices of families, Far from Home highlights the wide-ranging impacts of housing insecurity and calls for greater action to ensure safe, stable housing and better support for those affected.
Dr Hannah Fairbrother, Senior Lecturer in Public Health and Lead Researcher from the University of Sheffield, said: “Our report shares families’ experiences in their own words, using illustrations to visually convey the emotional and practical realities of housing insecurity. Maisy’s delicate line work, thoughtfully chosen colour palette and rich, textural mark making bring families’ narratives to life in a sensitive and engaging way. We hope the report will help a wider audience understand the profound toll housing insecurity takes on parents’ and children’s health and everyday wellbeing.”
Dr Anne-Marie Burn, co-lead on the project from the University of Cambridge, added: “Our illustrated report shows how insecure, temporary accommodation takes its toll on mental health — through constant moves, overcrowding and the daily uncertainty of what comes next. These portraits are not isolated stories but reflect a wider pattern affecting families living with housing insecurity. Safe, stable housing and trauma-informed support are vital for families’ mental health and wellbeing.”
Artist Maisy Summer said: “As an illustrator, my practice is grounded in supporting the creative communication of stories and research. This work needs to be approached with empathy, care and sensitivity, especially when addressing complex and difficult subject matter. Working alongside Hannah and Anne-Marie, I sought to visually interpret the research and the families’ journeys in a way that conveys their weight while also creating an accessible visual entry point for readers.”
It is hoped that this new resource will deepen understanding of housing insecurity and its far-reaching implications. The project has also produced a summary report with key recommendations to guide local authorities in developing strategies to reduce housing insecurity among families with children.
Explore the resource
Related news:
The Fabric of Home: A word and textile exhibition exploring families’ experiences of housing insecurity