I spent last week talking to overcrowded families rightly terrified of explosive coronavirus outbreaks for @ObserverUK. Why isn't the gov taking up @GabrielScally suggestion to make empty hotel rooms available to those that need to self isolate? 1/3 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/12/virus-hitting-hardest-modern-equivalent-victorian-slums

Longer term why not fund councils to buy up empty homes for overcrowded families as @KarenBuckMP_ and @Meg_HillierMP have proposed 2/3

This just shows coronavirus is not some great leveller. Those in the worst housing doing the lowest paid jobs are more at risk 3/3

For context: 788,000 families are overcrowded. Over the last 10 years overcrowding in the private rented sector has almost doubled as benefit cuts have pushed families into smaller homes. Overcrowded social housing has gone up 27% reflecting how few social homes are being built.