Warm and Healthy Homes

FUSE 20th October 2015

Cliff Duff

Housing Solutions, Durham County Council

County Durham

• 227,000 domestic housing

• 160,000 private and private rented

• 11.4% households in fuel poverty

• Rural West Durham, off gas areas and hard to treat properties

• Up to 35% fuel poverty in rural areas

Housing Energy Database

Fuel Poverty in Co Durham

Health Impacts

• Energy and Fuel Poverty Partnership

• County Durham Affordable Warmth Strategy

• Building Research Establishment

• Health Impact Assessment

• Quantify the effect of poor housing on health linked to Housing Health and Safety Rating System

• Data sharing with Durham University

Mapping Excess Cold

Warm and Healthy Homes • Assistance where health is affected by lack of heating or

hot water

• Improve the health and wellbeing of clients living in a cold, damp home

• Energy efficient central heating systems, insulation measures and support

• Warmer healthier homes, lower fuel bills

• Reduce levels of fuel poverty and Excess Winter Deaths

Households Assisted

•Private and Private Rented Sector

•People over 60 years on a low income

•Families with children on a low income

•Long term sick and disabled people.

•Vulnerable groups i.e aged 85 plus

Training and Referrals • Awareness and briefing sessions for front line

health, social care and partners

• Eligibility, referral process and fuel poverty

• Referral system for front line staff

• Client home visits to discuss assistance

• Measures installed by Warm Up North British Gas in 5 working days

Outcomes • 247 front line staff trained

• 193 referrals received

• 82 households received new central heating systems

• Free insulation measures under Warm Up North

• Fuel tariff advice, fuel switching, benefit maximisation, home fire safety visits

• Evaluation by Sheffield Hallam to measure well-being status

Case study• Mrs Hedley’s gas-fired room heater was condemned

• No heating and could not fund a boiler replacement

• Referral received from Occupational Therapist

• New gas boiler installed by WHH scheme at no cost to Mrs Hunter

• Free loft and CWI insulation via Warm Up North

• Increased income via Disability Living Allowance

• Fire safety check and smoke alarms installed

• Mrs Hedley now has a warm, well insulated home with lower energy bills and an increased weekly income

Mrs Hedley and Sue Carr

cliff.duff@durham.gov.uk