Tackling health and housing together: How the South London Health and Housing Coalition is driving change
Poor housing affects health in many ways. In south London, we are innovating to address this by bringing together the NHS, local authorities and community organisations to identify solutions—and deliver them. The Health and Housing Coalition was set up in 2024 to be the driver of this work, and at a recent gathering of partners reviewed the progress we have made and agreed how to build on that momentum.
On 3 March 2026, leaders from across health, housing and the community came together as part of the Coalition’s growing programme. This was the third meeting of the Coalition – chaired by community leaders, with Andrew Bland and Sir Richard Douglas, CEO and Chair of South East London ICB and South West London ICB.
But the discussions on the day point to something much broader than a single meeting. They highlight a maturing partnership that is beginning to turn shared ambition into practical, system‑wide change.
Why the Coalition exists: A shared recognition of the need to tackle the health impacts of housing
Through thousands of conversations with residents across south London as part of South London Listens, one message came through clearly: housing is a major driver of both physical and mental health. Damp, mould, overcrowding, insecurity, and the stress of unstable tenure are all taking a toll on people’s wellbeing.
Both NHS South East London and NHS South West London have made explicit commitments—through South London Listens and community assemblies—to act on these issues. The Coalition was created as the vehicle to deliver on those commitments, bringing together NHS partners, councils, voluntary sector organisations and community leaders from all 12 south London boroughs.
This shared purpose was echoed by Andrew Bland, Chief Executive of NHS South East London and NHS South West London, who reflected on why this work matters so deeply:
“Poor housing has a real effect on people’s health, and this work and setting up the Coalition is a direct pledge we’ve made to our communities. It’s exactly what our organisations are here to do: come together, work outside our usual boundaries and find practical solutions with the people we serve. As senior leaders across south London, we have the power to turn these ideas into action. That’s the task of this Coalition, and it’s the journey we’re taking forward together.”
Alongside this, Denise Williams-Dean, Co‑Chair of the Coalition and representative from Oliver Goldsmith Primary School in Southwark, spoke to the emotional impact and shared hope behind the work:
“Thank you all for joining. I am excited to be taking this work forward with you all. I know that the world around us can feel bleak and full of uncertainty at the moment. But spaces like this where we can come together gives hope. Because I know there is so much we have achieved and will continue to achieve together. So let’s do it!”
This commitment underpins every theme running through the Coalition’s programme.
Key themes emerging across the Coalition’s work
1. Strengthening the NHS’s Role as an Anchor Institution
The Coalition sees the NHS not only as a healthcare provider but as a powerful anchor institution with the ability to influence the supply of affordable, safe homes.
Partners have already:
- Identified NHS and public land suitable for affordable and social housing.
- Progressed discussions on repurposing NHS accommodation into temporary or community‑led housing.
- Supported discussions on meanwhile housing and modular solutions for people experiencing homelessness and patients awaiting discharge.
This strand of work is now moving from proposal into practical feasibility studies and early delivery—a major step given the scale of the housing crisis in south London.
2. Bringing housing advocacy into health services
The Coalition wants to end the “ping‑pong” experience many residents face when their health is affected by unsafe or insecure housing. A community‑written play performed by English For Action at the March session brought this experience vividly to life.
In response, partners are working to:
- Standardise GP and hospital processes for identifying and raising housing‑related health needs.
- Roll out a resource pack for clinicians, local authorities and residents, improving clarity and consistency.
- Explore embedded housing advocacy within health settings, such as primary care hubs or hospital respiratory wards.
This theme is about giving frontline staff the confidence, clarity and authority to act early and effectively.
3. Tackling Digital Exclusion for those in Temporary Accommodation
Digital connection is now a basic requirement for health, education, employment and social participation. Recognising this, the Coalition is supporting boroughs to provide free Wi‑Fi in temporary accommodation, with several boroughs already rolling out the approach and others planning to follow.
This work is helping to define a “Five Basics” standard for temporary accommodation—cooking facilities, information, laundry, storage and Wi‑Fi.
4. Strengthening community power
Community leadership sits at the heart of the Coalition.
Priorities include:
- Ensuring residents with lived experience help shape decisions at every stage.
- Continuing to use creative methods—like legislative theatre—to drive honest conversations.
- Supporting local action‑planning in every borough, recognising different starting points and opportunities.
This is about shifting the balance of power so that residents help design the solutions that affect their lives.
Momentum already building
Important progress is already evident across the programme:
- NHS and public land opportunities have been identified for future housing.
- Clearer, fairer processes for raising health‑related housing concerns are being implemented.
- Digital inclusion projects are expanding, improving access to education, GP services and community support.
Reflecting on this growing momentum, Fr David Pennells, Mitcham Parish Church, Co‑Chair of the Coalition and parish priest at Mitcham Parish Church, highlighted the achievements already underway:
“We can already see the difference this Coalition is making — not in theory, but in the real, practical steps partners are taking across south London. By working together, we’re beginning to unlock change that simply wouldn’t be possible alone, and that sense of working as colleagues and coming to practical solutions gives us the confidence to go further.”
These early wins demonstrate what collaborative, cross‑sector action can unlock.
What happens next
The themes discussed in March helped set a clear roadmap for the coming months:
- Partners will explore what action can be taken locally to improve housing advocacy and information in health settings, tailored to each borough and neighbourhood’s needs.
- Training and support will be strengthened so frontline staff can intervene earlier.
- Pilot housing sites will progress, including developing what meanwhile housing and modular options could work for the NHS – and the Coalition will create shared templates for scaling successful models across south London.
Towards a Healthier, Fairer South London
The Coalition continues to build a strong foundation rooted in listening, learning and practical action. Partners left the March session with renewed purpose and a shared commitment to improving how people live—and therefore how they stay well.
By working across traditional boundaries, and by ensuring communities remain at the centre of the conversation, south London is demonstrating what is possible when housing and health are treated as inseparable parts of the same mission.
At the end of the event, Sir Richard Douglas, Chair of NHS South East London and NHS South West London, reflected on the importance of hearing directly from residents and remaining grounded in their experience. He acknowledged both the scale of the challenge and the responsibility of partnership in addressing it – but he emphasised the importance of taking meaningful, practical steps together. “Just because you can’t do everything doesn’t mean we can’t do something.”