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Healthy Homes Initiative: Three year outcomes evaluation
Findings from the Healthy Homes Initiative: Three year outcomes evaluation, published on 3 October 2022, show the number of hospitalisations for referred tamariki and their wider whānau was reduced by 19.8 percent after the intervention, and that when people were hospitalised, these hospitalisations were shorter and less severe.
The evaluation report also highlights that the Healthy Homes Initiative is making a tangible contribution to better health and social outcomes for referred whānau.
Read the report here on our website: Healthy Homes Initiative: Three year outcomes evaluation
Why we need healthier homes
Cold, damp, crowded homes can increase the risk of respiratory issues and other preventable health conditions, such as rheumatic fever and skin infections. There is strong evidence, nationally and internationally, of improved health outcomes resulting from warmer and drier homes.
Improving housing is also an equity issue, with Māori and Pacific families being over-represented in low-income households in areas of poorer quality and crowded housing.
About Healthy Homes Initiatives
The Healthy Homes Initiatives (HHIs) were established between December 2013 and March 2015 and cover 11 district health boards (DHBs) with a high incidence of rheumatic fever. Initially, the HHIs targeted low-income families with children at risk of rheumatic fever who were living in crowded households.
In 2016, the breadth of the programme was expanded. It focuses more broadly on providing warm, dry and healthy housing for:
- pregnant people
- low-income families with children aged between 0 and 5 who’ve been hospitalised with a specified housing-related condition
- families with children also between 0 and 5 for whom at least two of the social investment risk-factors apply.
In 2021 the Government announced additional funding to expand the reach and impact of the programme. This includes expanding the programme to the whole country from 1 July 2022.
How Healthy Homes Initiatives works
The HHIs identify eligible families, working with them to carry out a comprehensive housing assessment and complete an individualised action plan to create a warmer, drier, healthier home.
The HHIs then help families to get the interventions they need to create a better living environment, especially for their children.
Interventions given to these families include help with:
- accessing insulation
- curtains
- beds and bedding
- minor repairs
- floor coverings
- ventilation
- heating sources
- Full And Correct Entitlement assessments through Work and Income
- support with power bills
- finding alternative accommodation as needed.
Reach and impact of the Healthy Homes Initiatives
- To date, over 34,000 tamariki have been seen by HHI providers
- Over 120,500 whānau members have been seen by HHI providers
- 85% of referrals to the HHI have been either Māori or Pacific people
- Over 109, 000 interventions received. These interventions include education, beds, bedding, curtains, draft stopping, heating, insulation and houses.
Who we work with
Te Whatu Ora has worked closely with a number of key government agencies such as Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities, Ministry of Social Development (MSD), the Energy Efficiency Conversation Authority (EECA) and, more recently, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) to enhance the service for families.
For example, some families are eligible for the Rheumatic Fever Fast Track onto the social housing waitlist, and families living in Kāinga Ora properties are able to access key capital interventions such as insulation (usually within 90 days).
Healthy Homes Initiative providers
Te Whatu Ora works with these providers around the motu:
Taranaki: WISE Charitable Trust
Phone (05) 08 238 837
Email healthyhomestaranaki@wise.org.nz
Te Tai Tokerau (Northland) Manawa Ora: Manawa Ora Healthy Homes - Mahitahi Hauora
Phone (09) 438 1015 or 021 415 665
Email manawaora@mahitahihauora.co.nz
Te Toka Tumai Auckland & Waitematā: Noho Āhuru
Phone 021 733 016 (Auckland), 021 733 016 (Waitemata)
Email housing@adhb.govt.nz
Counties Manukau: AWHI Healthy Homes Initiative, provided by the National Hauora Coalition (NHC)
Phone (09) 950 3325
Email referrals@awhi.co.nz
Waikato: Whare Ora
Phone 0800 WHARE ORA (0800 94273 672)
Email WhareOra@waikatodhb.health.nz
Bay of Plenty: Healthy Homes BOP
Phone 022 497 2529 / (07) 544 1882
Email bophealthyhomes@so.org.nz
Lakes: Healthy Homes
Contact number 022 4972529
Email address lakeshealthyhomes@so.org.nz
Tairāwhiti: Turanga Health
Phone (06) 869 0457 (Turanga Health HHI) or (06) 864 6803 (Ngāti Porou Hauora HHI)
Email toni.walker@nph.org.nz (Ngati Porou Hauora HHI) or memory.taylor@turangahealth.co.nz (Turanga Health HHI)
Hawke’s Bay: Child Healthy Housing Programme
Phone (06) 8799 440
Email childhealthyhousing@hbdhb.govt.nz
Wellington: Well Homes
Phone 0800 675 675 or (04) 570 9002
Email wellhomes@huttvalleydhb.org.nz
Mid Central: Kainga Whakatipu
Email KaingaWhakatipu@mdhb.health.nz
Wairarapa: Kainga Tū Tangata Ora (provided by Whaiora)
Phone 0800 494 246
Email ktto@whaiora.nz
Canterbury: Tamaiti Healthy Homes
Phone 0800 66 99 57
Email tamaitihealthyhomes@omwwl.maori.nz
South & Southern Canterbury: Aukaha
Phone 03 474 2271
Related content
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Healthy Homes Initiative: Three year outcomes evaluation
A commissioned report evaluating the Healthy Homes Initiative.