There is growing recognition that housing and health are deeply interconnected. Safe, stable, and good-quality housing is a vital building block for health.

When we say health, we mean that in its broadest sense. We mean physical health, mental health and social wellbeing. Health is not just the absence of disease or infirmity; it’s about promoting overall quality of life. It includes the ability to live with dignity, to participate fully in society, and to maintain meaningful relationships.

Since 2010, life expectancy in England has stalled, and people, particularly those in the most deprived communities, are spending more years in poor health. These trends are shaped by persistent and widening inequalities in education, income, employment, and, crucially, housing. The ongoing housing crisis, including experiences of homelessness and substandard living conditions, is contributing to poor health outcomes and reinforcing disadvantage. Addressing health inequalities therefore requires us to consider housing not just as a place to live, but as a core component of public health and social justice.

The Housing and Health Project partnership; Expert Citizens, Midlands Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, Keele University and the Centre for Health and Development (University of Staffordshire) seeks to bring together lived experience, professional insight, and community knowledge to better understand how housing and health can be integrated. Through meaningful engagement and dialogue, we aim to inform more equitable housing policies and to support healthier, fairer communities for all.