Children presenting to homeless shelters unable to chew or swallow solid food

Homeless children are presenting at emergency accommodation hubs with underdeveloped swallow reflex and problems chewing solid food, believed to be associated with a prolonged diet of non-perishable puréed food.

The homeless service organisation, Novas, said it noticed the problem occurring in children presenting at its “family hub” services, who had spent lived for prolonged periods in hotel rooms with no access to cooking facilities.