Leeds continues to make strides in its innovative Health and Housing Programme, aimed at boosting public health through improvements in housing conditions.
This programme, integral to addressing health disparities in the city, has made notable progress in various initiatives over the past year. One of the standout projects within the programme is the weatherproofing scheme. This initiative, funded by Leeds City Council and delivered by Care and Repair Leeds, has significantly improved living conditions for the city’s most vulnerable residents.
By targeting homes privately owned by individuals with disabilities, long-term health conditions, or the elderly, the scheme has upgraded 45 properties in 2023/24 with plans to enhance 55 more by March 2025. The improvements in heating and insulation have led to reduced energy costs and markedly better physical and mental health outcomes for the occupants.
Additionally, the Children’s Respiratory and Housing Pathway has made critical advancements in supporting children affected by respiratory illnesses linked to poor housing conditions. This pathway allows healthcare providers to connect families directly to council services for essential home improvements, effectively reducing repeat hospital visits.
Parallel to this, the Breathe Easy Homes initiative offers support to families not necessarily linked to hospital admissions but who face repeated respiratory issues due to poor indoor air quality. This project provides families, particularly those with low incomes, with hypoallergenic bedding, air purifiers, and other tools to improve air quality in their homes, showing substantial benefits.
Another significant component of the Health and Housing Programme is the integration of hospital discharge workers. These roles, created at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust and staffed through the council, focus on resolving housing issues for patients at risk of homelessness upon discharge. The initiative has successfully supported 376 referrals, with a notable case saving an estimated £38,000 in hospital bed days by expediting housing repairs for a discharged patient.
These projects align with Leeds’s broader commitment as a Marmot City, a designation reflecting a two-year partnership launched in April 2023 with the Institute of Health Equity, led by Professor Sir Michael Marmot. The Marmot City initiative emphasizes the social determinants of health and has identified housing as a key priority in reducing health inequalities across the city.
Councillor Fiona Venner, Leeds City Council’s executive member for equality, health and wellbeing said:
“These projects show the power of partnership work and what can be achieved by creating strong links across the city to design and deliver new and innovative ways of improving the health and wellbeing of residents.
“From the feedback already received, it’s clear this work has generated some impressive results so far and it’s exciting to see what lies ahead, towards our aim of building healthier homes and a brighter future for all involved.”
Councillor Jessica Lennox, Leeds City Council’s executive member for housing said:
“Better homes can help improve health in a variety of ways, from tackling respiratory disease by addressing damp and mould though to influencing mental health by promoting security and safety – so it’s vital these services work closely together and this link has been strong in Leeds for a number of years.
“We’re proud of the promising results seen in this new programme of work and the difference it is making to the families and people who have benefited so far. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners and maximising opportunities to link up further and help improve the health of those in need.”
Helen Beioley, chief executive of Care and Repair Leeds said:
“We’ve been privileged to provide the weatherproofing service since July 2022. It has made a significant difference to each and every client in terms of improving the energy efficiency of homes and dealing with long-term and ongoing maintenance issues. The impact of the works are far-reaching and have enabled our clients to continue to live in their own homes independently, remaining healthy and safe, warm and secure.”
Matthew Hick, Asthma Clinical Nurse Specialist, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said:
“The housing pathway in an exciting initiative between Leeds Childrens Hospital and Leeds City Council. It allows hospital-based staff the opportunity to raise concerns about children’s housing directly to key personnel within the council.
“As a children’s respiratory nurse working directly with these patients, it’s nice to know we can continue to help the child and their family when they have left hospital, by improving their housing situation. The Leeds City Council team has been very proactive in supporting us, such as the ‘breathe easy’ programme, which helps to improve indoor air quality for the family.
“We are really pleased to be able to help children and their families across Leeds. This pathway has been shared regionally in the hope that this pioneering way of working can be adopted to help others.”
This report provides an update on the advancements made by the Leeds Health and Housing Programme over the last year. The initiative collaborates with Leeds City Council, the NHS, third sector organizations, and housing associations to devise innovative, cost-effective strategies aimed at improving the health of Leeds residents by upgrading their living conditions.
As the Leeds Health and Housing Programme progresses, it consistently showcases the significant benefits of integrating health and housing strategies on the overall well-being of its residents. This initiative is paving the path towards a healthier and more equitable city, demonstrating the crucial link between quality housing and improved public health outcomes www.democracy.leeds.gov.uk
