HLINks Weekly: Housing, Health, and Social Care Latest News

HLINks Weekly: Housing, Health, and Social Care Latest News

9 February 2026

Welcome to this week’s edition of HLINks.

As the national network connecting housing, health and social care, we’re pleased to share new learning, leadership reflections, research and opportunities shaping the sector. In this edition, you’ll find:

  • Inspiration from the final session of our 2025/26 Future Leaders Programme, featuring leadership journeys from Bradford Council and Social Care Futures

  • The launch of the Amar Bari, Amar Jibon research report, exploring the housing needs of Bangladeshi elders across four East London boroughs

  • Highlights from the Almshouse Association research conference, where Housing LIN closed an insightful day on community, resilience and ageing well

  • A call to action from Trusted Assessing and Care Training (TACT), inviting housing professionals to share their experiences through a new national survey

  • A new Scottish report on Housing Quality and Health, examining the economic and wellbeing impacts of poor housing

  • A reflective Housing LIN blog from CEO Jeremy Porteus on social care investment, funding pressures and the need for integrated approaches

  • And a wide-ranging roundup of what else caught our interest, from healthy homes benchmarks and trauma-informed care to cohousing insights and digital switchover guidance.

Thank you for being part of our shared learning journey and for continuing to shape the conversation with us.

HLINsquare_Logo Best wishes,
The Housing LIN Team

News Highlights

Final session of the 2025/26 Future Leaders Programme inspires

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Sponsored by Sovereign Network Group, our fifth cohort enjoyed two inspiring presentations from Bradford Council’s Fazeela Hafejee and Social Care Futures’ Neil Crowther, who shared insights from their non-linear leadership journeys, the people who shaped them, and the values driving a shift in their leadership toward “allyship”.

CEO, Jeremy Porteus honoured to close the Almshouse Association research conference

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Housing LIN's CEO, Jeremy Porteus, was honoured to close the Almshouse Association research conference at Ironmongers’ Hall in London last week.

With an impressive line-up of speakers, the event explored how the almshouse movement helps residents tackle loneliness and isolation, creating resilient communities through thoughtful design and compassionate housing, care, and support for older people.

Have Your Say – Help Improve Trusted Assessor Services

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Trusted Assessing and Care Training (TACT) is inviting housing professionals to support a new national survey designed to capture the real experiences of people who have received Trusted Assessor assessments for independent living equipment and home adaptations.

The survey is open from 27th January to 15th April 2026 and is completely anonymous.

Resource roundup

Developing suitable living environments for Bangladeshi elders: A research report on four East London boroughs

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We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Amar Bari, Amar Jibon (My Home, My Life) research report at the House of Lords last week, hosted by Lord Best.

This pioneering study by The Open University, Bangla Housing Association and Housing LIN, and funded by the Vivensa Foundation, examined the housing circumstances of the Bangladeshi ‘probin’ community across 4 East London boroughs.

It makes a number of significant findings and important recommendations. 

Housing Quality and Health - an Economic Analysis

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A new report from the Scottish Futures Trust and Public Health Scotland highlights the scale of the health and financial implications of poor-quality housing in Scotland, including references to older adults.

The study reinforces the importance of cross-sector collaboration - linking housing, health and economic analysis - to build a more complete picture of how living conditions shape Scottish population wellbeing.

Expert Insights

The transfer window has closed. Who cares?

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In this new Housing LIN blog, CEO Jeremy Porteus explores the stark contrast between football’s lavish transfer spending and insufficient social care investment, urging stronger funding for housing, integrated care, and DFGs as ageing population pressures rise and upcoming budget decisions loom ahead.

What else caught our interest...

Dates for your Diary

Housing LIN Conferences 2026: Shaping Homes for Health, Independence, and Connection

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It's still possible to reserve a place for our FREE Annual Conferences, Shaping Homes for Health, Independence, and Connection.

Thanks to our Network, speakers and sponsors for making these flagship events possible, bringing together housing, health and care leaders to explore innovation and national developments.

Find out more and reserve your place:

HAPPI Hour webinars

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We look forward to sharing exciting updates about our Spring/Summer HAPPI Hour webinar series commencing in April 2026.

In the meantime, you can now access the full recordings, slides, chat reports and feedback for all previous sessions, featuring diverse speakers and topics from dementia-friendly design and AI to community-led housing, almshouses and diversity. 

Events supported by the Housing LIN

Want to know what we're working on?

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From sector-leading research with universities to creating tools that shape organisational policy and practice, we’re driving innovation in the sector. Find out more!

We also offer tailored support to help you navigate today’s complex challenges, whether strategic or operational.

Let’s work together! Please email us at consultancy@housinglin.org.uk or explore our award-winning Research and Advisory Services to learn more.