Brea Attrill
Brea Attrill Corporate Lead - Safeguarding

The link between health and housing is nothing new, local authorities have been trying to manage it for years.

It goes right back to a theory many of us know - Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Among the basic needs for humans are shelter (a home) and health, and they must be met for people to fulfil their needs.

As a housing provider, we are providing basic needs to our residents. However, this is being impacted by the constant change in regulatory demands, cost of living crisis, increasing expectations and lack of financial support.

Many of the people who work in housing are passionate, hardworking and thoughtful who do their best with the resources and support they have.  They are often managing complex and high-risk situations with reduced professional support.

The lack of funding and resources for public sector bodies and statutory functions are impacting more than ever before. Social care pathways, mental health pathways, health services and safeguarding teams are overwhelmed and at capacity.

Housing Associations who are increasingly called on to support residents affected by the decline in welfare services, are themselves finding their support networks stretched due to increased regulatory and legislative demands, rising costs and an inflexible rent and grant funding regime.

This is why we welcome the latest HOS report which throws a spotlight on the challenges we face.

A relationship of equals

On top of requiring the advanced training that will allow our officers to better understand the complex needs of residents and have the skills to support people experiencing them, we also need a multi-agency approach to achieve the right outcomes.

Too often I find that ‘housing’ is not seen as a core agency to involve in any complex needs assessments, so we need to change the narrative to support this ambition and break down the cultural and professional barriers that currently hinder this.

I have always believed that a housing provider should look to create teams which encompass the ethos of social care and health as we can’t provide a home to vulnerable people without having a workforce that understand them. By having dedicated teams to focus on this work and by increasing the support available to housing officers, we can work together with other agencies to better meet the needs of residents.

Throughout my career in housing, I have had heard many of my colleagues say : 'I don’t know who I am going to be today the social worker, counsellor, support worker or police officer.'

I hope this report is the turning point for a strong and supportive multi-agency approach, with clearer definitions and systems that are easy to navigate for all.

The government must review this report and all its recommendations in order that housing associations can deliver the much needed homes and expanded support services.

If we gain the necessary political and financial support, then alongside the other agents responsible for residents health and welfare – the social housing sector can act positively on the report’s recommendations.

Our news

All Articles
G15 Logo
  • 19 November 2024

Southern Housing features prominently in latest G15 “Room to Grow” report

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  • 14 November 2024

Using coaching and insight to improve resident experience

Lewis Kinch (1)
  • 25 September 2024
  • Careers

Blog: Our seven principles for successful co-creation

Southernhousing
  • 28 August 2024
  • Announcement

Southern Housing upgraded to highest governance rating by Regulator

P49 Social Vikki Waker2
  • 12 August 2024

Blog: The housing crisis - Is Shared Ownership the key?

Shg 26A (1)
  • 30 July 2024
  • Careers

Blog: Residents and colleagues working together as one

Karin Wildlife
  • 16 July 2024

Blog: We must all take responsibility for our local wildlife

P49 Social Karin Stockerl2
  • 27 June 2024

Blog: Investing in our homes - a call for collaborative action

Richard White 1 (1)
  • 12 June 2024

Blog: Housing associations are key partners in solving the housing crisis

Election Campaign 1B
  • 03 June 2024

Blog: More than 140,000 children are living in temporary accommodation

P49 Social Chris Middleton2
  • 28 May 2024

Blog: Transforming homes through strategic investment

P49 Social Lily Monk2
  • 22 May 2024

Blog: The journey towards a single contact centre

P49 Social Paul Hackett2 1
  • 14 May 2024

A response to the Ombudsman’s Paragraph 49 report

P49 Social Kara Tomas Meek2
  • 03 May 2024

Blog: Contributing to a sustainable world

P49 Social Tina Edwards2
  • 19 April 2024

Blog: Navigating cultural integration - Building a unified identity at Southern Housing

P49 Social Amy Singh2
  • 11 April 2024

Blog: Using data to improve customer services

P49 Social Jane Campbell2
  • 21 March 2024
  • Careers

Blog: Diversity in the Legal Services team

P49 Social Paul Hackett2 1
  • 19 March 2024

Blog: Improving services for residents

P49 Social Troy Francis2
  • 12 March 2024

Blog: A Simple Approach for Better Services

P49 Social William Miller2
  • 07 March 2024

Blog: Social Impact - a financial ally for our residents

P49 Social Vanessa Biddiss2
  • 04 March 2024

Blog: Helping residents to sustain their tenancies

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  • 29 February 2024

Blog: Investing in our homes

P49 Social Paul Day2
  • 26 February 2024

Blog: Mapping out the future

Douglas Silverstone
  • 16 February 2024

Technology: the engine of a merger

Puneet Rajput
  • 08 February 2024

Blog: Delivering effective resident governance

Helena Ingham
  • 06 February 2024

Blog: A merging opinion -  they work best when residents are at their heart

Jenny Poore
  • 28 January 2024

Blog: Reflecting on the successes and challenges of the merger journey

Colin Lydon (1)
  • 23 January 2024

Blog: Delivering an effective ASB handling service

Mij Rahman
  • 16 January 2024

Blog: Improving our data input

Dave Burton
  • 09 January 2024
  • Resident Involvement

Blog: The Resident Scrutiny Panel – our year one journey

Naomi Keyte
  • 09 January 2024

Blog: Listening to and acting upon residents’ feedback to shape our care services

Yvette Carter
  • 21 December 2023

Blog: Repairing trust

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  • 18 December 2023
  • Sustainability

Our new Environmental Sustainability Strategy

P49 Social Paul Hackett2 1
  • 18 December 2023

Blog: The first 12 months of a merger

IMG 1168 (1)
  • 30 November 2023

Our annual review 2022-23

Featured in the photo (from left to right): Bunmi Atta (Director of Construction at Southern Housing), Mike Link (Chair of the ABE CLT), Cllr Michael Warden (Chair of Aldingbourne Parish Council) and Steve Underwood (Development Manager at Southern Housing).
  • 25 October 2023

New homes delivered at Wings Wood development in Chichester

2DLP8969
  • 19 September 2023
  • New developments

Final brick laid at New Kent Road development

Milestone At Southwark Development
  • 15 September 2023
  • New developments

Milestone at our Southwark development

Rosemary House
  • 18 July 2023
  • Sustainability

Topping out at The Green Quarter

The Mannings
  • 11 July 2023
  • Sustainability

Topping out at new low carbon housing project