Author: Bullen C, Kearns R A, Clinton J, Laing P, Mahoney F, McDuff I
Journal: Social Science and Medicine, 2008
Volume/pages: Vol 66, pp1185-1196

About the study
This study examines the Healthy Housing Programme in Auckland, New Zealand, a partnership project bringing housing, health and social welfare services together to tackle poor housing, over-crowding and the consequent ill-health in low income households. Housing officers and public health nurses conducted joint assessments of households which led to an action plan agreed with the household and including recommendations for things as diverse as structural alterations to properties or transfer to a new home through to referral to health, social services or health education.

Findings
Service providers found that by approaching each household as a 'blank slate' they were able to work with each family to find a real solution to their biggest issues without being constrained by 'institutional structures and barriers'. The paper gives some direct examples of creative solutions that were found and the impact they had on the households. Key impacts on those households that received the highest level of intervention were on over-crowding, cold and damp, domestic routine (ie: housekeeping) and the social implications of living in an improved environment (ie: pride in inviting people over). Reported effects included improved family relationships, increased privacy, happier households and fewer hospital admissions.

Key messages

• Working together allowed colleagues from different sectors to find common ground and broaden the view of health and health promotion.
• Giving people greater control of their environment and by making improvements based on the family’s needs had a positive effect of their sense of identity, security, family relationships and even social cohesion.