bpha joins pioneering health and housing partnership
4 October 2024
bpha has partnered with two fellow housing associations and Public Health (Milton Keynes, Bedford & Central Bedfordshire) to improve health outcomes of local people now and into the future.
The partnership, between Public Health and housing associations Grand Union and Peabody, was established in 2022. It has since been working to tackle health inequalities, by improving access to services and developing new and innovative solutions.
The links between health and housing are long established with housing being a significant building block of health. The housing sector is an essential stakeholder in Public Heath’s aims to tackle health inequalities and prevent ill health.
Richard Hill, bpha CEO said: ‘We believe the partnership presents a significant opportunity to positively impact the health and wellbeing of the people and communities we serve. Research has demonstrated the overall disparity in health between those living in social housing and those in neighbouring areas that do not. Our sector has a responsibility to understand more and respond to this, both through improving access to information and long-lasting interventions such as the design of homes, regeneration and placemaking. The partnership has already achieved some positive outcomes and we look forward to joining Peabody, Grand Union and Public Health and working with our customers to meet these challenges.’
Vicky Head, Director of Public Health said: “Public Health are excited to be extending the health and housing partnership to work with bpha ltd, alongside Grand Union and Peabody. By further developing joined up approaches we can work together and ensure housing association residents are aware of range of public health services that are available to them where they live. Supporting residents with their physical and mental wellbeing has many wider benefits including increasing their financial wellbeing, confidence and job opportunities. As this work continues to develop, we will keep sharing our good practice and learning across sectors.”
