Agenda item

Presentation on housing as a predeterminant of health and wellbeing.

Paul Harris

(40 minutes)

Paul Harris, Executive Director, Curo addressed the Board, a summary of his presentation is set out below.

Housing crisis

Crisis has been ongoing for around 30 years and the recent Government target of building 300,000 new houses a year is not being met.

Investment in safety and zero carbon

This work is of course necessary but has changed the perspective of how we manage our budget.

Levels of mental ill-health and disability

Increase in these numbers is higher for those people who live in affordable homes.

Poverty / Cost of living

This is inevitably affecting those who were already struggling more.

Social housing and other tenures

Social Housing

·  2.4m tenants (1.6m LA)

·  Lonely, anxious, support

·  Smaller homes (66 sqm)

·  13% decent homes failure

·  66% energy efficiency

Private rented

·  4.4m private renters

·  Currently unregulated

·  Smallish homes (74 sqm)

·  21% decent homes failure

·  42% energy efficiency

Owner occupied

·  15.5m owner occupiers

·  Larger homes (109 sqm)

·  16% decent homes failure

·  42% energy efficiency

B&NES (Housing) context

·  High cost of living

·  Huge waiting lists

·  Increasing homelessness, overcrowding

o  Large families living in properties with a low number of rooms

·  Accessibility

o  Properties not equipped or in a good enough state for the people living there

·  Curo estate

o  Former Council homes in the main, built in the 1960’s

·  Lack of development / land prices / planning

o  Small numbers of Affordable Homes

Major factors affecting health

·  Space

·  Neighbourhood

·  Quality of home

·  Damp & Mould

·  Cost/poverty

·  Poor finish/furniture

Damp & Mould - An increasing concern

• 42% Curo properties reported at least once
• 49% residents have someone at home for whom D&M makes their health worse
• 15% residents can heat only one room
• 6.5% have disability, damp & mould and affordability concerns

What is Curo doing to help

• Damp & Mould Plan, remote monitoring, national awareness-raising
• Customer support fund
• Passport 2 Housing, Money Advice Service, Navigators
• Hoarding – help & advice
• Better data – targeted investments (£100m over five years)
• Building new homes (+ HE funding)
• Green spaces plan

What can other partners do to help

• NHS/ICS – understand role housing plays in health and wellbeing; recognise harmful effects of damp and mould, work closely with housing providers
• All – consider joint investments to improve housing quality and save costs elsewhere in the system
• LA – properly fund DFG (Disabled Facilities Grants) process; create adapted housing register; air quality strategy

Rebecca Reynolds said that the presentation showed it was clear that there is a link between housing conditions and the health of residents. She asked who within the Council would be best to talk with regarding the Disabled Facilities Grants.

Paul Harris replied that they would normally discuss this with Graham Sabourn (Head of Housing) and Mike Chedzoy (Housing Options & Homelessness Manager).

Councillor Romero suggested that these officers could be invited to a future meeting of the Board.

Libby Walters asked if a shortlist of top priorities could be identified.

Paul Harris replied that the gaps in housing provision need to be addressed as well as homelessness and availability of supported accommodation. He added that the Foyer in Bath which provides housing for people aged between 18 and 25, normally does so for up to two years, but currently has 5 people that have been there for longer as there is a lack of ‘move on’ facilities.

He said that work to improve neighbourhoods in our most deprived areas should also be prioritised.

Richard Smale commented that he would be willing to provide contacts if required to the NHS / ICS to enable further discussions.

Jayne Davis stated that it was vital to have the views of young people on the issues that affect them. She added that she believed that the homeless problem was bigger than the current figures suggest.

Paul Harris agreed and said that he felt that the count that takes place is not reflective of the actual number of homeless people and that the numbers are much bigger.

Mary Kearney-Knowles said that the presentation shows how startling the housing problem is and that it is a clear priority that needs addressing.

Rebecca Reynolds suggested that the BSW Academy could also look to have the subject of housing and health as part of their training and development programme.

Joseph Prince said that housing features highly in the JSNA (Joint Strategic Needs Assessment) and that the evidence is there to support it as a priority to be addressed.

Councillor Rob Appleyard asked how the Council and Housing Association can improve the provision of larger properties.

Paul Harris replied that the Housing Association should where possible attempt to work more closely with Planning Dept. He added that the Council could consider the development of larger properties by not always selling their land to the highest bidder and having an influence on what type of houses are built.

Councillor Romero asked what scope was there to extend current properties and was there any type of programme to do so.

Paul Harris replied that Curo do have an Asset Management Plan and that they are considering whether the basements of some central properties could be developed. He added that they have 800 listed homes to which no development work is allowed and said that that for some properties it can be a very long process.

Councillor Romero commented that she would like officers to assess what work would be required to have in place an Adapted Homes Register. She also thanked Paul Harris for his presentation on behalf of the Board.