Housing at the centre of well being Barbara A Smith MBE Lead Member for Modernisation & Housing Denbighshire County Council Prynhawn da. Good afternoon I am going to talk about the impact of Housing on well being Although this is a national conference, I cannot comment in detail on practices across Wales as I do not have that knowledge. Therefore, I will illustrate my comments with examples from Denbighshire.

Is Housing an essential basic need? Obviously housing is important but is it an essential basic need? Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is about the well being of an individual, He places Shelter as one of our basic life needs and says if you cannot fulfil your Biological and Physiological needs you cannot progress through the Hierarchy of Needs to personal growth and fulfilment.

What part does Housing play in well being? Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 (2) “Well-being”, in relation to a person, means well-being in relation to any of the following— (a) physical and mental health and emotional well-being; (b) protection from abuse and neglect; (c) education, training and recreation; (d) domestic, family and personal relationships; (e) contribution made to society; (f) securing rights and entitlements; (g) social and economic well-being; (h) suitability of living accommodation. So what part does Housing play in well being? The Social Services and Well Being Act (Wales) 2014 gives 8 definitions of well being, including ‘the suitability of living accommodation’. Good quality housing influences most of these definitions, demonstrating the need for a holistic approach to well being. Housing is not just bricks and mortar. If they are poorly designed, badly maintained, unaffordable and with poor transport links, there can be a negative effect on individuals, families and communities. These impacts can include physical and mental health, fear of crime and personal safety, educational attainment, disposable income and opportunities for training and employment.

Adopting a corporate approach across the authority For example: How can local authorities promote the well being of their citizens through housing? Adopting a corporate approach across the authority For example: Extra Care Housing Extra Care Housing Social Services Planning Public Realm Council Housing Our well being doesn’t only depend on one facet of our lives and no one service can provide all we need for our whole well being. So we need to adopt a corporate approach across the authority For example – Good Extra Care in Denbighshire isn’t just about the building. It’s about working with Social Services to ensure the design is physically suitable and will provide a safe and stimulating environment Working with Planning to make sure the designs will be approved and the quality is right Working with the Council Housing function to use the Housing Revenue Account to support wider housing objectives And - It’s about working with Public Realm to make sure there is access to good outdoor space Other examples of corporate approach are:- Social Services working with Housing and Planning to build and adapt houses for specialist needs Social Services, Planning and Housing work together to bring empty homes back into use And Planning and Procurement encouraging the use of local contractors to boost the local economy and provide employment and apprenticeships. Community benefits are included in all contracts. This has led to 2 permanent jobs following the Arbed scheme in Denbigh

Welsh Housing Quality Standard achieved Upgrading play areas How is Denbighshire Housing promoting the well being of their residents? Welsh Housing Quality Standard achieved Upgrading play areas Creating allotment areas for residents Providing leisure passes for council tenants Creating area plans focusing on Culture, Well being, Education, Crime and Housing need Redesigning areas to provide more attractive environments Neighbourhood officers to interact and address concerns Increasing the occupational engagement of residents Denbighshire is one of the authorities that have retained their Council Housing function and this has enabled them to use the Housing Revenue Account in creative and inventive ways to support wider housing/well being objectives. Current achievements include: Achieving the Welsh Housing Quality Standard Upgrading play areas Creating allotment areas for residents Providing leisure passes for council tenants Creating area plans focusing on Culture, Well being, Education. Crime and Housing need Redesigning areas to provide more attractive environments Neighbourhood officers to interact with residents and address concerns – now joined by community development Officers to complement housing work and develop cross tenure community planning Increasing the occupational engagement of residents

Some current Housing projects to promote well being and occupational engagement These are some current Housing projects – allotments, refurbished areas, redesigned play areas and green spaces

Encouraging the active involvement and support of all partner agencies What does this mean In practice? Rhyl West Welsh Government Registered Social Landlords Private Contractors DCC Planning & Housing Often the complexity of people’s needs require an approach that covers not only different services within a local authority but also different partner organisations. We need to encourage the active involvement and support of partner agencies. The Welsh index of multiple deprivation reveals severe deprivation in areas of Denbighshire including Rhyl West and Upper Denbigh. With the use of the Welsh Governments Strategic Regeneration Fund and the use of the Social Housing Grant and the Housing Revenue Account, Denbighshire has supported projects in these areas Working with The Welsh Government , Registered Social Landlords and contractors, Denbighshire have demolished a large area of substandard housing in Rhyl West, created a green space and is rebuilding more suitable accommodation in the area

Project in Rhyl West- creation of green space The creation of green space has enabled the community to exercise and socialise, which in its turn contributes to better mental health and well being and fosters a sense of community.

Project in Rhyl West – low quality HMOs refurbished for family housing In Princess Street Rhyl –low quality Houses of Multiple Occupation were purchased by Clwyd Alyn RSL and refurbished for family use Introducing more family housing changes the balance within a community In Upper Denbigh, the Arbed scheme - a fuel economy initiative on private and council houses- has been possible, working with the Welsh Government, Planning, Housing, CAB and local contractors providing fuel efficient houses, apprenticeships, increased incomes and community benefit.

Denbighshire Corporate Plan Denbighshire Social Care Plan Mainstreaming well being outcomes through existing plans and strategies Denbighshire Corporate Plan Denbighshire Social Care Plan Denbighshire Well Being Plan Denbighshire Local Development Plan Denbighshire Housing Strategy So how are we mainstreaming well being outcomes through existing plans and strategies? 1. In Denbighshire’s Corporate Plan – 2 of the 7 key priorities for Denbighshire are linked to well being. They are: Vulnerable people are protected and are able to live as independently as possible And Ensuring access to good quality housing. 2.– A key feature of Denbighshire’s Social Care Plan is the change in emphasis from dependence to enabling clients to live independently. This includes the development of Extra Care Housing, the adaptation of homes to meet specific needs and ensuring that vulnerable people at risk of becoming homeless have access to suitable and appropriate accommodation 3. Denbighshire Well Being Plan focuses on independence and resilience, empowering residents to maintain their own independence and well being. Housing plays an important role in providing housing and housing related services which lend themselves to independence as opposed to dependence. 4. Denbighshire Local Development Plan is a statutory long term plan to guide the shape of the built environment, detailing land for housing and policies on the provision of affordable housing 5. Denbighshire Housing Strategy has 5 themes and all address different aspects of Well being.

Denbighshire Housing Strategy – key themes Action Plan Theme One More homes to meet local need and demand Theme Two Affordable Housing Theme Three Safe and healthy homes Theme Four Support Independence and prevent homelessness Theme Five Housing's role in delivering sustainable communities . They are being delivered through the Housing Action Plan The themes are:- Delivering more homes to meet local need and demand Affordable housing Safe and healthy homes Supporting independence and preventing homelessness and Delivering sustainable communities.

Registered Social Landlords Private landlords Developers What type of assistance/ support would be useful from partner organisations? The Welsh Government Registered Social Landlords Private landlords Developers Third party organisations Support from all stakeholders in the early stages of planning a solution to any problem will demonstrate a shared commitment and understanding of the challenges. This is why collaboration is an important principle, not because it delivers economies of scale but because it delivers well-thought out, holistic services that address problems effectively. Specific assistance that could be useful from partner organisations includes: The Welsh Government –who can help by ending the Right to Buy, provide incentives to local authorities to build additional new homes, protect existing social housing stock , increase the Social Housing grant and extend its availability to local authorities. Housing associations have a crucial role to play in the housing system in delivering new and affordable homes, bringing empty homes back into use, improving communities and supporting and engaging with their tenants The private rented sector is playing an increasing important role in the housing market. The Housing Act (Wales) 2014 enables local authorities to alleviate homelessness by using accommodation in the private sector. There is still significant challenges in improving the condition of older homes in the private sector. Developers can help reduce the housing shortage by building more new houses, a proportion of which should be affordable. They can also contribute to the local economy by using local firms and training local apprentices and providing green spaces The provision of financial, benefit and debt advice by third party organisations will enable families to have more control over finances

What are the gaps and pressures? More can be done to: Increase the housing supply Improve housing quality in the social and private sector Engage with landlords to improve the offer in the private sector Prevent homelessness Reduce poverty / increase disposable income Improve energy efficiency Create opportunities for employment, training and apprenticeships Take opportunities to collaborate with partners Provide suitable housing for Looked after Children But more can be done to: Increase the housing supply Improve housing quality in the social and private sector – licencing of private sector landlords is important to ensure standards in the worse properties are addressed. Engage with landlords to improve the offer in the private sector – In Denbighshire, 16% of all housing is privately rented and the affordability of the private sector is a big issue compared with income levels in the county Prevent homelessness Reduce poverty – increase disposable income Improve energy efficiency –targeting at the disadvantaged to help address ‘fuel poverty’ Create opportunities for employment, training and apprenticeships Provide suitable housing for Looked after Children. As corporate parents we have a duty to support them during transition from child to adult services and provide a stable environment after leaving care

In conclusion: Housing- at the centre of well being - Plays a key role in reducing inequalities Has an important function in creating prosperous and sustainable communities Does not exist within a social, political or economic vacuum but is an important part of society Can have a very positive contribution to the well being of individuals, families and the wider community Contributes to the aspirations of the Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Act and the Well-Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act In conclusion: Housing is at the centre of well being It plays a key role in reducing inequalities It has an important function in creating prosperous and sustainable communities It does not exist within a social, political or economic vacuum but is an important part of society It can have a very positive contribution to the well being of individuals, families and the wider community and It contributes to the aspirations of the Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Act and the Well-Being of Future Generations (Wales) Act Thank you for listening. Although I have concentrated on Denbighshire, all local authorities in Wales contribute to well being through their housing policies. Good quality, appropriate, affordable housing is the foundation of all public sector well being strategies. Going forward, we need to collaborate and share our good practices to optimise outcomes for our citizens.