How does housing affect our wellbeing? New open access resources look at what home means to people and how structural inequalities can shape people’s experiences.
The resources are included within a new Evidence Review. The review has been co-produced by Research in Practice and Social Care Future. Groups of people with different experiences worked together to discuss issues that are important to them and outline the five key changes needed in social care to unlock an equal life.
The chapter sets out barriers to people accessing suitable accommodation, what we can do to support people to overcome these barriers and sustain a home that meets their physical and emotional needs.
What does home mean to people?
Home should be a safe place, somewhere you spend time at, and where you feel that you can live a fulfilled life.
There is a large body of research that links housing with wider wellbeing. Home is a place where we want to spend time as well as where we live. It isn’t just a building – it’s the people and things that are in our home, too. It’s about meeting physical, emotional and wellbeing needs. It’s important to remember it’s not only about what people need – it’s about what they want in terms of design, location, and who they live with.
In this video, David Yeandle describes how housing and home has a knock on effect on many other parts of people's lives:
Dealing with housing however, whether local authority departments, associations, buying and selling a home, or navigating the private rented sector - is usually a very complicated operation.
There remain notable inequalities. For example, disabled people are often demoralised and frustrated by the housing on offer to them and rising inflation has seen more people living in poverty. These circumstances often exacerbate the strong associations between physical and mental health, wellbeing, our ability to work and study, and our housing situation.
Poverty, wealth and housing status
Someone’s financial status can affect how they feel about their home. This may be through being unable to heat it or care for it, or their security of tenure. This has been intensified by the cost-of-living crisis, inflation, and rising energy costs.
This isn’t getting any better, is it? There are no signs that it is getting any better at all.
For those who are renting, the lack of protection it affords, rising costs and the threat of being evicted at short notice can have detrimental effects to wellbeing. This is particularly true for older or disabled renters who have built up connections in the area they live in.
There are also safety concerns for those who are disabled. In the Grenfell Tower fire, 41% of those who died were disabled, with residents telling the Grenfell Inquiry that the local authority had refused to discuss evacuation plans. It is imperative we look at all the options available, provide adequate solutions and support people’s rights in terms of housing and financial support.
Making people feel at home
How can we support people to plan effectively in relation to choices about housing? Research suggests that there is a real need for co-production in the design of spaces. In modern residential and care homes, there has been a conscious effort to avoid features like locked doors that provoke a feeling of being cut off from society. However, this does not mean they immediately feel ‘homely’.
Person-centred planning is vital in direct work. Early planning for the options available can ease the pressure and avoid inappropriate housing situations. It is important for everyone that we communicate clearly what is on offer. If people feel they have had a say in how there house and home looks and feels it improves their wellbeing.
Sharing your changes
This article is part of a series on a new Evidence Review. Everyone is encouraged to find action points in the review that are relevant to them and consider how they can be achieved.
Research in Practice would like to hear from those who use the Evidence Review. In the spirit of co-production, you could contact us jointly with someone with care and support needs. We would be keen to feature your stories in podcasts and blogs.
