18 Voices from Social Housing: Shaping Health and Housing Research Priorities

In November 2023, the Housing and Health Research Network as University of South Wales convened a consensus meeting that brought together researchers, policymakers, housing practitioners, and health professionals to identify strategic research priorities for housing and health. Through collaborative discussion, five key priorities were agreed upon, including addressing health inequalities, leveraging AI and technology, and aligning housing stock with health needs.

This study extended the work of the consensus meeting by engaging underrepresented voices, specifically social housing tenants, to ensure that the identified priorities reflected lived experiences. Using participatory methods, semi-structured focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with tenants across Wales. Participants reviewed the consensus priorities and shared their perceptions. The discussions were analysed using thematic analysis to identify patterns and themes in participants’ feedback.

Participants highlighted barriers and facilitators in achieving housing that promotes health and wellbeing, emphasising the importance of affordability, community connection, and support for diverse health needs. Feedback also pointed to challenges in adopting technology, concerns about equity, and worries around increasing energy costs. There were also concerns around physical barriers created by cuts to public services, including reduced local transport services. These issues seemed to contribute to feelings of mistrust and heightened vulnerability in communities. Participants also stressed the need for systemic change to address health inequalities and promote equitable housing policies. These findings underscored the importance of incorporating tenants’ voices into housing research and policy development.