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Healthy Housing

Healthy Housing is a joint project between Housing New Zealand and District Health Boards (DHBs). The programme works with Housing New Zealand tenants in selected areas, and began in 2001.

Healthy Housing aims to:

  • raise awareness of infectious diseases like meningococcal disease, rheumatic fever, tuberculosis, cellulitis and respiratory diseases
  • improve access to health and social services
  • reduce the risk of housing-related health problems
  • reduce overcrowding.

Healthy Housing is currently underway in parts of the Hutt Valley, Otara, Glenn Innes and Mangere.

How Healthy Housing works

Along with the DHBs, the programme identifies the most appropriate sites for Healthy Housing by looking at hospital admissions for infectious diseases, and the numbers of state houses in areas of high social deprivation.

Housing New Zealand staff and a public health nurse meet with tenants taking part in the programme to identify housing and health issues in households. A clinician (from the DHB) reviews the information gathered from the interview.

The DHBs ensure tenants and their families can access healthcare for any health problems highlighted in the interview. They also make sure that people are connected to social service agencies if welfare services are needed. Housing New Zealand responds to the housing-related information from the assessment.

Findings so far

In 2005, Housing New Zealand contracted Auckland UniServices to evaluate Healthy Housing's outcomes. This evaluation ran over three years, and identified:

  • the evidence that Healthy Housing has made a difference in the risk and rate of housing-related diseases, conditions and injuries, and improved wellbeing
  • the programme's outcomes
  • any barriers to the achievement of Healthy Housing objectives.

A report on the first year of the outcomes evaluation found that tenants who took part in Healthy Housing identified positive changes in family life, participation in community activities, and increased general health and wellbeing. The evaluation suggests Healthy Housing brings positive change to households, and greater collaboration between Housing New Zealand and DHBs.

A summary of the outcomes evaluation results can be found in the Report Summary - The Healthy Housing programme evaluation (PDF, 9.1KB)

Community Profile: Taita and Naenae (PDF 2.2MB)

Education Outcomes Report: Taita and Naenae (PDF, 799KB)

The Healthy Housing Programme Outcomes Evaluation (PDF, 116KB)

How tenants are involved

Invitations are sent to all tenants in selected Healthy Housing areas If you want to be involved, your Housing New Zealand area co-ordinator will ring you and arrange a time to meet with you and a public health nurse to talk about your housing and health needs.

The discussion may lead to improvements being made to your house, such as insulation. If there are too many people living in your house we may find another one that suits you better. Or, we may consider other ways to improve your existing home.

The public health nurse can offer advice on any health-related concerns you may have.

Health Innovations Award

The Healthy Housing initiative was the Supreme Winner in the 2005 Health Innovations Award.

Between its introduction in 2001 and March 2010, the programme helped more than 9,250 households, including reducing household overcrowding for 1328 families.

Upgrades to homes have included insulation and ventilation to make them healthier, improved bathrooms to reduce mould. Some families have been assisted into larger houses in the private sector, or transferred into larger state houses.

The programme makes a difference to people’s lives, and is a good example of what can be achieved when agencies work together. Participants have reported improved self-esteem, increased school attendance and reduced hospital visits.