Inventing our future Collective action for a sustainable economy

Housing to improve health and well-being
Regional Housing Strategy for the East of England: 2005–2010
6.54 This should be seen within the context of the Region’s emerging health strategy, which aims to
reduce health inequalities and encourage healthier lifestyle choices. It will focus on addressing the
wider issues that affect the population’s health such as the environment, economy, housing and
transport, as well as taking action to encourage and enable healthier lifestyle choices. It will seek
to do this by raising awareness of health and promoting the notion that health is everyone’s
concern, not just the role of the NHS.
6.55 Poor housing has long been associated with a range of physical and mental health conditions.
Improving people’s housing can reduce health inequality and make a significant contribution to
their sense of health and well-being. Housing and housing services can be an effective tool in the
prevention and control of disease and the promotion of good mental health. Furthermore there
are significant links between ‘liveability‘ and health, both physical and mental. Children are
disproportionately affected by the quality of the local environment since they are the ones who
spend most time in parks and play areas.
6.56 The Region should promote independence and housing choice for people in vulnerable groups.
Housing developments and housing services can prevent or delay the need for costly intensive
services and can improve quality of life and engagement with the community. Housing agencies
make a contribution to preventing delayed transfers of care by ensuring people receive the
equipment, repairs, adaptations and improvements their housing may need in a timely way. Home
Improvement Agencies play a crucial role in supporting vulnerable people and enabling them to
stay at home. Home Improvement Agencies are usually funded by local authorities and Supporting
People budgets.
6.57 Disabled Facilities Grants (DFGs) are ring-fenced mandatory grants with 60% coming from the
Government and the remainder from local authorities. The 2004 Housing Act has extended DFGs
to all those occupying caravans as their only or main residence.
6.58 There is a universal difficulty across the Region with demand for DFGs outstripping the capacity to
supply. At the time of writing, there is an ODPM review of DFGs (see section 8). A regional
strategic policy framework will need to be developed following the outcome of the review.
6.59 The design of homes is vital to enable older people to live independently. The Regional Social
Strategy identifies both Lifetime Homes and Smart Homes as mechanisms to minimise the effects
of social exclusion experienced by many older people.
6.60 In addition to the increase in single person households over the past decade, there has also been
a rise in the number of inter-generational households 18 . This underlines the need for increased
flexibility within the housing stock in terms of design and dwelling size.
6.61 Within society generally there is a greater prevalence of disability as more people survive an
accident or illness they previously would have died from, and new patterns of need are emerging. 19
6.62 There is a strong correlation between age and disability, it is estimated that nearly half the disabled
population is over state pension age. 20 As the population ages, more people are likely to need
housing that is accessible.
18 Future East Partnership
19 John Grooms Housing Association report ‘Where do you think you’re going?‘ 2003
20 Disability Rights Commission ‘Creating Sustainable Communities‘
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