Partnerships between housing, health and social care

Key statistics 

• poor housing conditions cost the NHS in Wales more than £95 million per year in treatment costs 

• poor housing is estimated to cost Welsh society more than £1 billion annually 

• investment to improve housing conditions could produce a financial return within approximately six years 

Key messages 

• poor housing is closely linked to health and wellbeing and creates avoidable pressure on health and social care services 

• collaboration between housing, health and social care can improve outcomes while reducing duplication and inefficiencies 

• integrated services can help people remain in their homes and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions or long hospital stays 

• person-centred approaches are central to effective partnerships, ensuring services respond to individual needs rather than organisational structures 

• six core principles support successful partnerships: shared problem analysis, person-centred design, strong leadership, joint resources, shared interpretation of legislation and recognition of power imbalances between organisations 

• local context is important, meaning successful partnership models must reflect the needs and characteristics of specific communities 

Policy implications 

• embed housing as a core component of health and social care planning and policy 

• support joint funding arrangements across housing, health and social care organisations 

• invest in preventative housing interventions that reduce demand for health and social care services 

• encourage integrated service delivery models such as hospital discharge partnerships, social prescribing programmes and community-based care hubs 

• strengthen national and local policy frameworks that promote cross-sector collaboration 

Gaps 

• the report focuses mainly on partnership principles rather than evaluating long-term outcomes or cost effectiveness of specific programmes 

• there is limited analysis of how housing-related interventions affect different population groups or geographical areas 

• further research is needed to understand how integrated housing and care models affect care access in rural or disadvantaged communities 

• evidence on how partnership approaches reduce inequities in health and social care access remains limited 

Commentary 
This report examines how stronger partnerships between housing, health and social care organisations can improve people’s wellbeing and reduce pressure on public services. It is based on interviews with fifteen collaborative projects across Wales that are already working across these sectors. 

The report highlights the strong link between housing conditions and health. Poor housing, including cold, damp or unsafe homes, contributes to illness and increases demand for health services. The report estimates that poor housing costs the NHS in Wales more than £95 million each year in treatment costs, with wider social costs exceeding £1 billion annually. 

One of the central ideas in the report is that housing should be considered part of the health and social care system. For example, some projects included housing staff working directly in hospitals to help patients resolve housing issues before discharge. Others used social prescribing approaches or integrated community hubs where multiple services work together to support people. 

These partnership models aim to help people stay in their homes safely and independently. This can prevent avoidable hospital admissions, reduce delayed discharges and improve quality of life. The report also highlights how joint funding and shared leadership can support these approaches. 

From an equity perspective, housing conditions play an important role in shaping health and social care outcomes. People living in poor-quality or unstable housing are more likely to experience health problems and require additional support. These challenges are often concentrated in lower-income communities, meaning housing can act as a driver of wider health and social care inequities. 

The report argues that stronger partnerships between housing, health and social care organisations can help address these issues. By coordinating services and focusing on prevention, integrated approaches may help reduce avoidable pressures on the health and social care system while improving outcomes for individuals and communities.