ICFHS team leads critical housing health dialogue for future systems

Researchers from UNSW Sydney's International Centre for Future Health Systems (ICFHS) have brought together leading experts, policymakers and practitioners to explore how housing policy can improve health, equity and climate resilience for low-income tenants in Western Sydney.

Led by Associate Professor Patrick Harris, the workshop examined research opportunities arising from two major NSW housing initiatives: the Social Housing Energy Performance Initiative (SHEPI), which invests in upgrading social housing, and the proposed Minimum Energy Efficiency Rental Standards (MEERS), which would require minimum energy performance in rental properties.

More than 30 participants from government, local councils, health services, community housing providers and universities discussed how housing interventions can reduce health risks associated with poor thermal performance, damp, energy insecurity and exposure to extreme heat and cold.

"Housing is a fundamental determinant of health," Associate Professor Harris said. "These initiatives provide a unique opportunity to understand how different policy approaches, investment and regulation, can improve housing quality, health outcomes and climate resilience."

Participants identified opportunities for stronger collaboration between housing and health systems, including proactive outreach, priority repairs, better identification of vulnerable households and shared approaches to evaluation.

The workshop concluded that healthy, affordable and climate-resilient housing should be viewed not only as a housing issue, but as a critical investment in health equity and future health systems.