About SHAPE

The SHAPE Exchange (Suitable Housing for an Ageing Population Evidence Exchange) is a five-year programme funded by the Vivensa Foundation and led by Housing LIN. It will transform how housing, health, and social care systems work together to improve the lives of older people; aligning with national priorities including the Older People’s Housing Taskforce, neighbourhood health reform, and adult social care transformation.

The latest national research by IPSOS and Housing LIN with over 5,500 adults aged 50+ shows that most older people want to remain in their existing homes, with the right adaptations and support, while those who wish to move often seek better mainstream housing rather than specialist provision. Yet current housing supply, affordability and design standards do not consistently meet these aspirations. SHAPE responds to this challenge.

The need for change is reflected in national policy. The NHS Long Term Plan calls for three major shifts: from hospital to community, from treatment to prevention, and from analogue to digital. Housing is foundational to each of these ambitions. At the same time, poor housing costs the NHS more than £1.4 billion annually in first-year treatment costs, according to BRE research. Ensuring older people have access to suitable homes is therefore central to both improving lives and reducing system pressures.

Broadening housing options must go hand in hand with reform across health and social care services. By embedding these connections, SHAPE supports both practical local delivery and wider system change: from hospital to home, to prevention-focused neighbourhood health models.

SHAPE is built around four pillars:

  • Resources and evidence – auditing, refreshing and curating a new generation of tools and guidance to support policy makers and practitioners.
  • Leadership development – regional leadership sets, aligned with the Vivensa Academy (opens new window) and Housing LIN’s Future Leaders Programme.
  • SHAPE Labs – co-produced innovation partnerships demonstrating real-world, scalable solutions.
  • Advisory and governance – expert oversight to ensure credibility, influence and impact.

Building on established programmes such as HAPPI and TAPPI, and working in partnership across housing, health, social care and community organisations, SHAPE will help create a stronger evidence-led foundation for better housing options and healthier later life across the UK.