Why should we care about healthier homes?

The Global Centre on Healthcare and Urbanisation Public Seminar series brings together members of the public, researchers and practitioners interested and engaged in urban health issues. The principal aim of the series is to provoke debate and constructive action, linking current best practice in urban development with emerging areas of health research.

Housing quality has a profound impact on health, with poor housing conditions exacerbating health inequalities, a situation made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic. For many residents in social housing communities, living in overcrowded homes with issues like damp, mould, cold, and pests is a daily reality. These challenges directly influence physical and mental health, raising the question: how can we build better connections between housing and health sectors to address these issues?

In this seminar, we will explore what it means to create healthy, adequate living environments in social housing, drawing on insights from academia, local government, public housing tenants, and the health sector. We will critically examine how these concepts can be practically assessed and effectively embedded into policy frameworks, while also discussing the importance of long-term collaboration between housing and health improvement initiatives. Through real-world examples and a focus on ‘City of Care’ urbanism, this session aims to spark a lively discussion on creating healthier, more sustainable living places.

This event will be chaired by GCHU Visiting Research Associate Dr Lidia Katia C. Manzo from the University of Milan, and speakers are as follows:

Professor Susan J Smith, Honorary Professor of Social and Economic Geography, University of Cambridge and President-elect of the British Academy

Professor Ken Gibb, Professor of Housing Economics, University of Glasgow and Director of the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence

Virginia Barbaro, Community Manager, ALER Milano regional company for public housing.

Sammy-Jo Hagan, Director, Designer & Retrofit Coordinator at Transition by Design Cooperative.

This in-person event is free and open to all. Refreshments will be served from 17:00. The seminar will begin at 17:30, followed by a drinks reception at 18:30.

Please note that we will be recording this event and a link to view it will be available on the GCHU website at a later date. There will also be a photographer taking photos at the event.

If you unable to attend after booking, please email events@kellogg.ox.ac.uk