Louise Trenchard, East Sussex Fuel Poverty Coordinator, has brought the following information to our attention;
“The Centre for Better Ageing published their report on how poor-quality homes have contributed to the pandemic. You can read the full report here – https://www.ageing-better.org.uk/publications/homes-health-and-covid-19
I have summarised the key points below:
Spending extended periods exposed to damp and mould is likely to exacerbate or induce respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, in turn increasing the risk of contracting COVID-19.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and amplified housing-related health inequalities in two ways. The emerging research suggests an association between accelerated transmission of the virus and areas of poor housing, having significant impacts on groups who tend to live in poor housing: older people, people with existing health conditions, those with lower incomes and people from ethnic minority groups. Secondly, the measures taken to control the virus have led to deepening health inequalities. The home has been the centre of most people’s lives during the pandemic as a result of social distancing guidance. The impact of lockdown on many of those in poor housing has been significant.
In a recent national survey, nearly a third of adults in Britain (31%) reported having had physical or mental health problems because of the condition of their homes during lockdown (National Housing Federation, 2020).
Of the 20 local authorities with the highest COVID-19 mortality rates, 14 have the highest percentage of households living in homes with fewer bedrooms than needed.Greater levels of deprivation have appeared to impact on the COVID-19 mortality rate, with rates more than double than those living in less deprived areas.”