Introduction
ScotPHN undertook a project on health and housing. Its purpose was to develop guidance on how to improve health through provision of good housing.
The focus was on the how the quality of housing:
- can be changed to improve the health and well-being of inhabitants; or
- can be changed to provide a suitable care setting.
The report links to other strands of ScotPHN and NHS Health Scotland work on homelessness, fuel poverty and adverse childhood experience.
The aims of the report were to:
- Extend understanding of public health contribution to the issue of housing;
- Raise awareness and improve usage of existing documents eg SHIIAN housing impact assessment;
- Provide support documentation for local engagement and implementation; and
- Create the environment for enhanced public health input to housing at national and local levels.
Emily Tweed, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde was lead author, with Tim Patterson, NHS Borders was sponsor on behalf of the Scottish Directors of Public Health and chair of the Project Advisory Group that was formed to guide the development of the document and build relationships between the public health and housing communities. Details of membership of the Advisory Group can be found in the report.
The full report and its appendices documents can be found on the following page, ‘Health and Housing Report’. In addition, case studies gathered from various NHS Board areas are available.
The report was launched formally by the Minister for Housing at the Chartered Institute of Housing ‘Housing Festival’ event on 14 and 15 March 2017. ScotPHN arranged an event in conjunction with the Local Government Information Unit on 7 July 2017 to bring the public health and housing communities together. A blog from the event can be found at LGIU website.