The government is to be commended that its white paper, Choosing Health, acknowledges the contribution that housing, the street environment and feeling safe can make to people’s ability to make healthy choices.

Social housing providers can make a key contribution to the creation of neighbourhoods that help people to feel safe, reduce accidents and encourage them to take exercise. They also could play a key role in helping to promote access to health information and engaging local communities in action that improves health.

Much of this work is already taking place. Let us hope that the publication of the white paper provides a further impetus for cooperation between agencies working at a neighbourhood level.

Peter Molyneux, co-ordinator, Health and Housing Network 

Source

Housing Today