Healthy Housing

Context

We all spend a lot of time in our homes, at some life stages we spend even more, pre-school children and the elderly. Because of this, the social, cultural and environmental aspects of housing are very important. Hence housing has both an aesthetic and functional components to be healthy housing. Different communities around the world value different aesthetic and functional aspects and therefore no one approach to build a house or build a housing development will be acceptable and appropriate.

Key Actions

Focus on holistic planning
Incorporate health considerations into strategic and spatial urban planning and housing policies and strategies.

Collaborate across disciplines
Foster collaboration between urban planners, public health experts, policymakers, developers, environmental consultants, architects, engineering consultants, and community organisations to develop holistic approaches that prioritize health and wellbeing in housing projects and policies.

Community participation
Involve residents and communities in the planning and decision-making processes related to housing projects. This helps ensure that the housing initiatives address the specific needs and preferences of the residents, promoting a sense of ownership, and fostering social connections.

Mitigate displacement and gentrification
Implement policies and programs that protect vulnerable communities from displacement. This can be achieved through rent control, inclusionary zoning, and community land trusts.

Promote social inclusion and diversity
Foster inclusive communities through housing projects that promote social cohesion, diversity, and integration of marginalized groups.

Prioritise affordable and access and stable housing
Implement policies that ensure that housing projects prioritize affordable, accessible, and financially stable, long term ownership and tenancy, for all socio-economic groups.

Improve housing quality standards
Implement and enforce regulations that prioritize good quality, aesthetically pleasing, safe, healthy, and sustainable housing designs, including adequate ventilation, lighting, and insulation, to minimize health risks associated with poor indoor living conditions. This includes rooms of approbate size for families and wheelchairs as well as proper ventilation, moisture control, and indoor air quality.

Health-inclusive environmentally conscious sustainable design
Incorporate health considerations and universal design principles into the design of housing projects, so they are accessible to people with disabilities across the lifecourse, including access to green spaces, parks, and recreational facilities. Encourage energy-efficient housing and environmentally conscious design

Mixed-income and mixed-use developments
Encourage the development of housing projects that incorporate a mix of income levels and diverse populations. This can foster social cohesion, decrease segregation, and promote the exchange of resources and support networks.

Equitable access to services and amenities
Ensure that housing projects are centrally located and have easy access to essential facilities such as schools, healthcare centres, public transport, and grocery stores.

Develop supportive services
Integrate housing programs with support services like counseling, healthcare, and social assistance to address the specific needs of residents, especially those experiencing mental health issues, substance abuse, or homelessness.

Monitor and evaluate health outcomes
Establish mechanisms to regularly monitor the health and wellbeing outcomes of residents in housing projects. This helps identify potential strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. And address potential negative impacts promptly, while also informing evidence-based mitigation and enhancement measures.

Positive Impacts

Improved physical health
Providing safe and affordable housing has positive effects on physical health outcomes. Adequate housing reduces exposure to environmental hazards, such as mould, lead, and poor ventilation, which can lead to respiratory issues and other health problems. Well-designed housing projects with amenities such as parks, green spaces, and play areas promote physical activity, reducing the risk of chronic diseases like obesity.

Mental health and wellbeing
Access to stable and affordable housing has been associated with better mental health outcomes. It provides individuals and families with a sense of long term security, privacy, and control, reducing stress, anxiety and depression. Stable housing also facilitates social connections and community engagement, contributing to improved overall mental wellbeing.

Educational opportunities
Affordable and stable housing can positively impact educational outcomes for children. Housing instability and overcrowding can disrupt education by affecting attendance, concentration, and academic performance. Suitable housing ensures a conducive environment for learning.

Social integration and cohesion
Well-planned housing projects and policies that prioritize mixed-income communities and social cohesion can foster social integration. Living in diverse communities with access to shared spaces and amenities encourages interaction between residents, fostering a sense of community identity, an increase in social capital, and a deeper and more resilient social support network.

Access to basic services
Good quality housing policies and projects can ensure access to clean water, sanitation facilities, retail services, and health and social care, improving overall health outcomes.

Environmental benefits
Sustainable and healthy housing projects reduce environmental pollution, indoor air quality issues, and promote energy efficiency, positively impacting residents' and community health and wellbeing.

Negative Impacts

Displacement and gentrification
Housing policies and projects have the potential to displace low-income residents, particularly in areas experiencing gentrification. Displacement can lead to significant negative impacts on health and wellbeing, including increased stress, disruption of social networks, and decreased access to essential services.

Inequitable design
Housing projects lacking accessibility features can create barriers for people with disabilities and able-bodied residents across the life course impacting their physical and mental health and wellbeing.

Inadequate housing conditions
Housing projects can fail to provide safe and healthy living conditions. Substandard housing, such as small rooms leading to overcrowding, lack of sanitation, lack of ventilation, and exposure to toxins, can lead to various health issues, including respiratory diseases, allergies, infectious diseases and mental distress.

Segregation and social Isolation
Poorly designed housing projects that segregate communities by income or social factors can have negative impacts on social cohesion and social integration. Segregated communities may experience limited access to resources and opportunities, leading to social isolation and reduced wellbeing.

Environmental health risks
Location and design choices of housing projects can expose residents to environmental health hazards. For instance, proximity to pollution sources, inadequate access to green spaces, or inadequate infrastructure can contribute to adverse health effects, including increased respiratory issues and chronic diseases.

Sources of Further Information

Brown, M. and Booth, R. (2022) Death of two-year-old from mould in flat a ‘defining moment’, says coroner. The Guardian. Available at: https://bit.ly/3NJ73ev (Accessed: 01 June 2023).

UK Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (2008) Good housing leads to good health: a toolkit for environmental health practitioners. Available at: https://bit.ly/44CCHAW (Accessed: 01 June 2023).

Rolfe, S., Garnham, L., Godwin, J. et al. (2020) ‘Housing as a social determinant of health and wellbeing: developing an empirically-informed realist theoretical framework’, BMC Public Health, 20, 1138. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09224-0

World Health Organization (2018) :WHO Housing and health guidelines: recommendations to promote healthy housing for a sustainable and equitable future. Available at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241550376 (Accessed: )1 June 2023).