HLINks Weekly: Housing, Health, and Social Care Latest News
HLINks Weekly: Housing, Health, and Social Care Latest News
28 July 2025
Welcome to our final newsletter edition before the summer break!
Before we dive in, we just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who joined our Spring/Summer 2025 HAPPI Hour series! With support from over 2,000 delegates, 36 expert speakers, and UK Research and Innovation, we’re excited to share the session recordings and slides, free of charge. Stay tuned for our new series launching this Autumn!
This week’s edition of HLINks features:
- Highlights from the South West Leadership Set meeting on the challenges of specialist housing and the needs of an ageing population
- A consultation on a proposed new formula for allocating the Disabled Facilities Grant
- The recording, slides and chat report from our most recent webinar on diversity in housing
- A new blog from the CEO of the Walton Charity on new almshouse accommodation for keyworkers
- Insights from Housing LIN's CEO on inclusive design for older people published by Procurement for Housing
- And lots more!
We will be taking a short pause over the summer to regroup and return with fresh perspectives. We'll be back in your inbox on 8th September — to coincide with Accessible Homes Week — with more updates, insights, and stories.
Until then, keep up to date on our news webpage, LinkedIn, or Bluesky pages. We wish you a wonderful and restful summer!
Thank you for joining us each week and being part of our community.
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The Housing LIN Team |
News Highlights
Select Committee writes to the Deputy Prime Minister
The chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee, Florence Eshalomi MP, has written to the Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner MP, to follow up on issues raised at its recent evidence session on housing for older people, held on 1 July.
Housing LIN South West Leadership Set push forward
The Housing LIN’s South West Leadership Set met last week to discuss the challenges facing the specialist housing market, explore regional needs for inclusion in government housing plans, and assess the sector’s readiness to meet future demand from an ageing population.
Changing the way government allocates Disabled Facilities Grant funding to local authorities in England
Following the independent review of Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG) in England, published in 2018, the government is now consulting on a new allocation formula to local authorities.
The consultation closes on 16 September 2025.
Summer reading. HAA co-chair publishes children’s book!
Mario Ambrosi, Director of Communications and Marketing at Anchor and co-chair of the Housing & Ageing Alliance, has published a debut children’s book.
Scarlett Buckling and the Case of the Missing Pictures is a mystery novel that follows 12-year-old Scarlett as she investigates her gran’s fading memories – exploring dementia, family bonds, and the courage to face life’s hardest moments.
Resource Roundup
Webinar recording now available - Promoting Diversity in Housing for a Diverse Older Population
The recording of our recent HAPPI Hour is now available!
Held in collaboration with The Open University and Bangla Housing Association, it explored findings from the Amar Bari, Amar Jibon study on housing needs within the Bangladeshi community. Speakers from Housing Pathway Solutions, Housing Diversity Network, and Coastline Housing also shared insights on diversity, inclusion, and community-led housing from across the sector.
On the Air: Investing in Supported Housing with Jeremy Porteus
Our CEO, Jeremy Porteus was pleased to join the latest episode of Stonewater’s On The Air podcast (S5 Ep7) to discuss the value of supported housing, not just for older people but across all age groups and needs.
The conversation looked at the social, financial and health benefits of good supported housing – from reducing demand on hospitals and social care to enabling people to live safely and independently for longer.
Expert Insights
Keys to housing: Walton Charity’s keyworker housing
In this new Housing LIN guest blog, Rob Mills, Chief Executive at Walton Charity, explores how the historic Elmbridge-based charity is adapting its centuries-old legacy to address today’s housing challenges.
Read on to find out more about how almshouses are being reimagined for the future.
Designing housing for an ageing population: solutions for an inclusive future
Originally published by Procurement for Housing (PfH) in June 2025, this blog was written by Jeremy Porteus, CEO of the Housing LIN.
Following his talk at PfH Live at Housing 2025 in Manchester, Jeremy shares the challenges and opportunities of housing for an ageing population, presenting innovative examples and actionable insights to inspire professionals in the sector.
What else caught our interest...
- Foundations' awards entry: Enter National Healthy Housing Awards
- Health and Social Care Select Committee inquiry: Healthy Ageing: physical activity in an ageing society
- Housing Ombudsman report: Repairs and property condition
- Knight Frank insight: Nextgen Living
- Scottish Govt framework: Scotland’s Population Health Framework 2025-2035
See What We’re Working on Behind the Scenes!
Curious about the various projects the Housing LIN is engaged in? These range from pioneering research partnerships with universities to the development of innovative tools and resources aimed at influencing policy and practice. Learn more here!
Building on our highly-prized learning and improvement ethos, the Housing LIN can also help you and your organisation underpin your progress in a changing and challenging work environment.
Let's Work Together! To find out how we can support your operational and/or strategic plans, contact us at consultancy@housinglin.org.uk or visit our Research and Advisory Services.