Health and housing: building a partnership to deliver for residents
With Awaab’s Law now in force alongside the Renters’ Rights Act, the link between housing and health is firmly on the national agenda. This reflects growing recognition that many of the factors shaping health sit outside the NHS. Housing, planning, transport and wider public services all play an important role in determining health outcomes.
Lewisham’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy identifies housing as one of its four priority areas. Over the past year, Public Health, Housing and Adult Social Care have strengthened partnership working to better support residents whose housing circumstances affect their health and wellbeing.
A key achievement has been the development of a Joint Working Protocol to improve support for residents with housing needs who are being discharged from hospital. Public Health has also undertaken evidence reviews to explore the links between housing and health, with a focus on damp and mould, temporary accommodation and children and young people.
Acting on the key issues
In June 2026, Public Health and Housing colleagues took part in a Local Government Association (LGA)-facilitated workshop to identify opportunities for closer working. The discussions highlighted barriers residents face when accessing support, opportunities to improve information sharing and the need for greater collaboration across services.
These conversations informed a joint Health and Housing action plan focused on:
- temporary accommodation
- children and young people
- data and intelligence
- workforce development
One issue emerged particularly strongly: the impact of temporary accommodation on children and families. Research shows that overcrowding, lengthy journeys to school and uncertainty about the future can affect both physical and mental wellbeing, making it harder for children to thrive at home and at school.
Supporting families in temporary accommodation
To help address these challenges, Lewisham's Public Health team has joined the national Health of Families in Temporary Accommodation Network, which brings together local authorities to share learning and identify effective approaches.
Locally, Public Health has also joined the newly established Children in Temporary Accommodation (CITA) working group. Bringing together colleagues from Temporary Accommodation, Housing, Service Improvement and Public Health, the group is focused on improving outcomes for families living in temporary accommodation.
Several initiatives are already underway. Funding has enabled the Lullaby Trust to provide safer sleep training for temporary accommodation staff and supported the distribution of baby boxes to families with infants. The CITA group also delivered a Back to School event, providing essential supplies for children ahead of the new academic year.
The group is now developing a practical guide for residents in temporary accommodation, bringing together information on healthy and affordable food options, community gardens, play spaces, menstrual products and other local support services.
Building a clearer picture
Alongside this work, we are strengthening our understanding of the needs of families with children living in temporary accommodation. Better use of data and intelligence will help us identify vulnerable households earlier and target support more effectively.
Children do not experience temporary accommodation simply as a housing issue. They experience it through disrupted sleep, long journeys to school and uncertainty in their daily lives. The impacts are often felt across education, health and social care as much as housing.
Addressing these challenges requires a joined-up approach. By bringing services together and developing a shared understanding of the families who need support, we can improve outcomes for children and young people living in temporary accommodation and help ensure every child has the best possible start in life.
Written by Hanifah Stewart and Abdu Mohiddin