The Healthy Housing Initiative (HHI) is pleased to announce a special Leadership Forum session as part of the Festival of Social Science taking place on 3rd November 2026 at the University of Huddersfield.
What’s on offer?
Join the Healthy Housing Initiative for a one-day, in-person conference exploring housing and health in the context of the cost-of-living crisis. Through a series of short, accessible presentations, professional contributions and a panel discussion, the event will examine housing affordability, fuel poverty, rising household costs, retrofit and the implications for health and wellbeing. There will also be opportunities for audience questions, discussion and networking.
What’s it about?
What does the cost-of-living crisis mean for creating and maintaining healthy homes?
Housing costs, energy bills and wider financial pressures are placing growing strain on households and the organisations that support them. At the same time, the need to improve housing quality, tackle fuel poverty and retrofit homes presents significant challenges for housing providers, local authorities and policymakers.
This event, led by the Healthy Housing Initiative, will bring together housing practitioners, professionals and policymakers to explore the connections between housing, money and health. Speakers will share research, evidence and practical perspectives on issues including housing affordability, fuel poverty, retrofit, financial pressures and housing inequalities.
Through short presentations, professional insights and a panel discussion, attendees will have the opportunity to hear different perspectives, ask questions and consider how research and practice can support healthier, more affordable and sustainable homes.
The event will also provide opportunities to connect with others working across housing, health and policy and to learn more about the Healthy Housing Initiative’s work.
Who’s leading the event?
Dr Tom Simcock (Research Manager of the HHI) & Prof Phil Brown
Open to
The event will be of particular interest to housing practitioners and professionals, local authority officers, housing association staff, policymakers, public health professionals, energy and retrofit practitioners, and people working in charities and third-sector organisations supporting households affected by housing costs, fuel poverty and poor housing conditions.
It will also be relevant to managers and leaders working across housing and related sectors who want to better understand the connections between housing, financial pressures, health and wellbeing.
Of particular interest to
The event will be of particular interest to housing practitioners and professionals, local authority officers, housing association staff, policymakers, public health professionals, energy and retrofit practitioners, and people working in charities and third-sector organisations supporting households affected by housing costs, fuel poverty and poor housing conditions.
It will also be relevant to managers and leaders working across housing and related sectors who want to better understand the connections between housing, financial pressures, health and wellbeing.
Our Speakers
- Dr Tom Simcock (Event Chair) and Presenting: “From Home to Work: Understanding Culture, Wellbeing, and Belonging”
- Prof Phil Brown (Chair of Panel) and Presenting: “Housing and Healthy: What does the data tell us?”
- Dr Dillon Newton – Presenting: “Flooding, Housing and Mental Health”
- Dr Claire McCauley – Presenting: “Retrofit, Cost of Living and Health”
- Dr Santokh Gill – Presenting: “Refugee Housing, Health and Belonging”
