HLINks Weekly: Housing, Health, and Social Care Latest News
HLINks Weekly: Housing, Health, and Social Care Latest News
29 June 2026
Before we dive in, we would like to highlight that this week is Co-production Week 2026, hosted by the Social Care Institute for Excellence, celebrating the power of co-production in shaping better, more inclusive social care.
It's an opportunity to highlight how working in genuine partnership leads to stronger, more responsive services. That's why we're excited for tomorrow's HAPPI Hour webinar, Showcasing community-led housing projects - designing with community in mind, which aims to demonstrate how residents, designers and professionals can work together as equal partners to co-design community-led housing.
Register to attend and join us on Tuesday, 30 June from 4pm - 5pm.
Also featured in this week's newsletter:
- New Housing LIN Case Study (No. 181) showcasing the transformation of a former Grade II listed hospital into whg's award-winning wellbeing-focused housing scheme for people aged 55+ in Wolverhampton.
- Have your say in our State of the Nation survey in collaboration with HCR Law on the impact of AI in specialist and supported housing.
- Two new Housing LIN guest blogs:
- Building Health into Homes by The Occupational Therapy Service's Lucy Leonard
- and How the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge transformed resident inclusion at United St Saviour's Charity by Jude Leighton.
- The Almshouse Association marks its 80th anniversary.
- The Amar Bari, Amar Jibon research group celebrates its successful conclusion with an inspiring end-of-project event.
And lots more that caught our interest, including updated government guidance on the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, new research on housing, wellbeing and ageing by HOUSE Research in Belgium, and techUK's take on why digital adult social care transformation is key to the future of the NHS.
Thank you for joining us each week and being part of our learning community.
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Best wishes, The Housing LIN Team |
News highlights
Funding roundtable: Housing LIN team up with Pozzoni Architecture
Last week, we teamed up with Pozzoni Architecture for a joint roundtable and an insightful discussion in Manchester.
Co-chaired by Nigel Saunders, Director at Pozzoni Architecture, the session explored how funding, design and policy can work together to deliver more specialist housing for older people, with a particular focus on housing with care and age-friendly communities.
Take part in our ‘State of the Nation’ survey to help sector learning on how AI is impacting specialist/supported housing
A reminder that our 'State of the Nation' artificial intelligence (AI) survey, in partnership with HCR Law, remains open.
We’re exploring how AI is being used across specialist and supported housing, its opportunities and challenges. Please share your insights by completing the survey before Friday, 10 July 2026. Thank you for your support.
The Amar Bari, Amar Jibon project celebrated its successful conclusion with an inspiring end-of-project event
The Amar Bari, Amar Jibon (ABAJ) project marked the successful completion of its three-year research programme with an inspiring end-of-project event on 13 June.
As communications partner for the project, the Housing LIN was delighted to support the dissemination of the research and its findings. Read the final project report and discover more about the ABAJ project here.
The Almshouse Association celebrates its 80th anniversary
The Almshouse Association marked its 80th anniversary with a parliamentary reception this week. With thanks to United St Saviour's Charity’s support, we are proud to host a vital selection of reports and studies that promote the almshouse movement.
Resource roundup
A call for wellbeing - Nightingale House offers HAPPI placemaking in Wolverhampton
In this new Housing LIN Case Study (No. 181), Rebecca Bennett Casserly, Corporate Director of Development at whg, explores how this former Grade II listed hospital in Wolverhampton has been transformed into an award-winning wellbeing-focused housing scheme for people aged 55 and over.
Updated Housing Health and Safety Rating guidance released
The government has published updated Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) guidance, following a comprehensive review.
The HHSRS is used to assess health and safety hazards in homes. It is risk-based, set out in regulation and covers a range of 21 potential hazards.
The Future of Housing, Wellbeing and the Elderly
This white paper by HOUSE Research in Flanders, Belgium, brings together four years of research into housing, wellbeing and older people, clustering the results into 10 core insights, practical tools and a clear call to action.
Co-produced with a panel and guidance group involving many (future) older people and professional partners, the white paper shares 10 key insights.
Why digital adult social care transformation is central to the future of the NHS
A new techUK white paper argues that digital transformation in adult social care is essential to NHS reform.
Delivering care closer to home depends on integrating technology, including housing, with health and care services. Achieving this requires improved interoperability, shared data standards, coordinated commissioning and stronger cross-sector accountability.
Expert insights
Building Health into Homes: Moving Occupational Therapy Upstream
Written by Lucy Leonard, Clinical Director of The Occupational Therapy Service, this new Housing LIN guest blog shares why housing must be recognised as a fundamental part of health and care.
Join Lucy and others as we explore this challenge further at our forthcoming HAPPI Hour webinar on Tuesday, 21 July 2026.
How the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge transformed resident activities and inclusion at United St Saviour's Charity
Marking Pride Month, we are pleased to share this new Housing LIN guest blog written by Jude Leighton, Head of Housing at United St Saviour's Charity, who explores how the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge has helped foster a more inclusive and welcoming culture across the charity's almshouses in Southwark.
What else caught out interest...
- ADASS article: Safeguarding adults: A renewed national focus
- Ageing Better article: Two 60s: inequality between haves and have-nots
- Community Catalysts blog: Helping people thrive: the possibilities of partnerships with housing
- Emerald Publishing journal: Ageing during times of change: community, social infrastructure and social exclusion
- Foundations blog: Building Health Into Homes Launch
- Homes England toolkit: Building for a Healthy Life
- Housing Digital article: Social housing needs new design to keep it cool
- Housing Today article: Prima Group and NHS launch pilot project to tackle health inequalities in social housing
- Inside Housing article: Catherine Ryder: What makes a good community?
- techUK blog: More data, same outcomes? Rethinking risk in social care
- TLAP report: Developing an Individual Service Fund offer: a new report to support local authorities
- UK Parliamentary Committee report: Healthy Ageing: physical activity in an ageing society
Dates for your diary
HAPPI Hour webinars
- Showcasing community-led housing projects – designing with community in mind on 30th June, 4pm - 5pm
- Technology-enabled, co-designed housing for better later living on 7th July, 4pm - 5pm
- Housing LIN Scotland – A manifesto for older people’s housing on 14th July, 4pm - 5pm
- Building Health into Homes: how occupational therapy can unlock the connection between housing and health on 21st July, 4pm - 5pm
- Creating Safe and Supportive Housing Environments on 28th July, 4pm - 5pm
While free to attend for Housing LIN members, spaces are limited. Reserve your place today and join us for inspiring conversations, fresh insights and engaging ideas.
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