Healthy Housing

Improving communication pathways between housing, health and social services working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal families in South East and South West Sydney

Background

Safe and secure housing is a basic human right and a social and cultural determinant of health and wellbeing. Housing conditions, housing security and surrounding home environments all impact on people’s health and wellbeing.

The Healthy Housing study arose from conversations at a Community Health Forum at La Perouse, Sydney. Aboriginal staff from a social service, Barnardos, highlighted an urgent need to address the poor housing conditions experienced by their clients living in social housing in urban Sydney and described frustration and trauma experienced navigating the social housing system. Barnardos staff expressed the impact housing has on health and wellbeing, such as asthma and other respiratory illnesses, and child injury. The community paediatrician, Aboriginal health workers and other health and social services staff attending the forum shared these frustrations and expressed concern that they did not know how to successfully navigate the social housing system to effectively advocate for their clients’ housing needs.

Their concerns are supported by mounting evidence that serious housing problems, e.g., poor dwelling conditions, insufficient space, unaffordability, instability and homelessness, are common for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in urban areas. Housing problems are associated with poor health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, further compounding ongoing impacts of colonisation.

This project centres on health and housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by bringing together Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal practitioners, clinicians and researchers with track records working with and prioritising the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.

Aims

• Map the key social housing services and personnel involved in the provision of housing for Aboriginal in South East Sydney, and non-Aboriginal people in South West Sydney,
• Describe the current pathways through which health and social services communicate with social housing services,
• Develop a communication and referral pathway between housing, health and social services to improve the efficiency and coordination of services, and
• Pilot the screening tool and referral pathway; clinicians and social service providers working with Aboriginal patients and clients in South East Sydney, and non-Aboriginal patients and clients in South West Sydney, to implement the tool and pathway.

Research Methodology

This project is governed by Aboriginal leadership, identifying research priorities, processes, and outcomes. Methods undertaken include: 

• A systematic review to identify housing needs assessment tools and social prescribing pathways used in health and social service settings,
• Qualitative semi-structured interviews with 55 key stakeholders, including healthcare, social services, housing providers, legal and tenant advocacy services,
• Mapping of housing communication and referral pathways between housing, health and social services in South East Sydney,
• A co-designed housing assessment and referral pathway tool, to be used by healthcare and social services to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families with their housing needs.

Current status

While this project is complete, it marks the beginning of ongoing Healthy Housing work and partnerships.