Report highlights city’s innovative work to create healthier homes

The report, to be discussed by senior councillors at next Wednesday’s executive board meeting (November 20^th), gives an update on the progress of a series of innovative projects delivered by the Leeds Health and Housing Programme over the past year.

The programme brings together Leeds City Council, the NHS, third sector organisations and housing associations in creating new ways of working, at no or very little cost, towards a city-wide ambition to improve the health of Leeds residents through better home environments.

Breakthrough projects include:

• Weatherproofing scheme: Funded by the council and delivered by organisation Care and Repair Leeds, this project has undertaken weatherproofing refurbishments in homes privately-owned by vulnerable people – such as those with a disability, long-term health condition or frail elderly – by funding essential repairs to heating and insulation. In 2023/24, this scheme upgraded 45 properties, with a further 55 expected by March 2025 and homeowners have so far reported benefiting from reduced energy bills, better physical health due to living in drier and warmer homes and improved mental health as a result.
  
  
• Children’s respiratory and housing pathway: This supports children treated in hospital for respiratory illnesses where known housing issues are exacerbating their condition. The new pathway allows clinicians to refer families to the council to action home improvements and prevent future hospital admissions.
  
  
• Breathe Easy Homes: Similar to the hospital project, this supports families of children who have not been hospitalised but are repeatedly seeing their GPs for respiratory problems linked to poor indoor air quality. Both projects help families on low income, regardless of who owns the houses. Breathe Easy Homes has led to the provision of personalised packages such as hypoallergenic duvets and pillows, air purifiers, dehumidifiers, air quality indicators and ventilation fans to families, who have since reported clear improvements to the air in their homes.
  
  
• Hospital discharge workers: Two new posts have been created at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, employed by the council, to address housing issues among patients who are homeless or threatened with homelessness, to help on their release from hospital. This team has so far received 376 referrals for support, with early analysis showing one case alone is thought to have saved Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust an estimated £38,000 in hospital bed days by fast-tracking the patient’s housing repairs.

The health and housing work also links in with Leeds’s Marmot city programme - a two-year partnership launched in April 2023 with the Institute of Health Equity (IHE) led by Professor Sir Michael Marmot.

The aim of the programme is to focus action on ‘social determinants’ – non-medical factors that influence health – in addressing health inequalities, with housing identified as a key priority of this work.   

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.”

ENDS

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