Press release

15 March 2007

Reducing overcrowding has significant health benefits

Housing New Zealand Corporation and the health sector have been working together to address health issues caused by overcrowding in houses in Mangere, Glen Innes, Panmure and Northland.

The Healthy Housing programme, set up in 2001, has reduced overcrowding and the risk of diseases associated with it like meningococcal disease, cellulitis and rheumatic fever, says Counties Manakau spokesperson Dr Gary Jackson.

“The programme really works. A recent programme evaluation shows a 37 percent decrease in housing related hospitalisations for families in Counties Manukau. Large decreases were seen in respiratory conditions and infectious disease.”

Dr Jackson says that public health nurses working on the programme ensure families are linked to health services, such as age appropriate immunisations, smoking cessation services and screening. People are referred to GPs and to outpatients if needed.

Corporation project manager Tracey Moore says over 4,500 families have benefited from the programme, which has reduced overcrowding issues for almost 1000 families.

“The programme addresses overcrowding by either moving people out of crowded homes or extending their existing Housing New Zealand home and by ensuring that families are linked to appropriate health and social services.

The evaluation also shows that families have become more involved in their local community and have become more engaged in education and employment,” says Ms Moore.

“The best part about working on the Healthy Housing programme is meeting people who are trying to do the best for their family and knowing that we can make things a bit easier for them.”

“Healthy Housing is a great example of sectors working together to really improve peoples’ lives,” says Ms Moore.

She says there is still a lot of work to be done and we would love to extend the programme to others in need in the Auckland area – but that depends on funding.

The Healthy Housing programme is a joint project between Housing New Zealand Corporation, Counties Manukau and Northland District Health Boards and Auckland Regional Public Health Service.

Statistics

From 2001 overcrowding addressed

Houses built/bought 72

Houses modified 213

Houses extended 321 Houses insulated 2,220

Assisted to private sector 87

Houses ventilated 3,390

Tenants Transferred 473

Houses heated 455

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