ZERO TO THREE recently released a new report on the status of infants and toddlers across the nation, providing an analysis of the disparities of opportunity. According to the report, 2 in 5 infants and toddlers live in families whose income was inadequate to make ends meet. As a result, many infants and toddlers—disproportionately babies of color—did not have preventive healthcare, adequate food security, or safe and stable housing. The report uses several indicators to assess the well-being of babies, including several housing indicators such as crowded housing, housing instability, and living in unsafe neighborhoods.
“Safe and stable housing is a basic necessity for everyone and is particularly important for infants and toddlers,” write the authors. “Babies reap particular developmental benefits from having a safe and stable place to call home. Stable housing supports family well-being and lower stress levels, setting the stage for nurturing parenting. However, many families struggle with the high cost of housing, causing them to move frequently, live in crowded housing or unsafe neighborhoods, or experience homelessness—all of which deprive young children of a stable environment needed to thrive.”
ZERO TO THREE, a Roundtable partner of the Opportunity Starts at Home multisector affordable homes campaign, is a leading national advocacy group that works to ensure babies and toddlers benefit from the early connections that are critical to their well-being and development.
Read the new report here.
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