Downloads

Project

Share

Raising the roof: can Scotland’s Housing to 2040 Strategy help as an approach to reduce health inequalities?

Reflecting national aspirations to address persistent health inequalities through joined up policymaking, this Scottish Health Equity Research Unit (SHERU) briefing examines which of the multiple commitments within Housing to 2040 have the potential to contribute to health equity. Published in March 2021, Housing to 2040 is Scotland’s first long-term national housing strategy. In this briefing, we consider the potential for key actions within this strategy to contribute to reducing health inequalities in the context of what we know about implementation of the strategy so far. Implementation is occurring within the backdrop of a declared national housing emergency, multiple local authority housing emergencies, and ongoing fiscal and systemic pressures. At SHERU, we recognise that addressing health inequalities is a continually evolving challenge. Through this briefing, we aim to foster dialogue on how Scotland can more effectively tackle these inequalities, by acknowledging and responding to key social determinants of health, such as housing.

Authors

Emma Congreve is Principal Knowledge Exchange Fellow and Deputy Director at the Fraser of Allander Institute. Emma's work at the Institute is focussed on policy analysis, covering a wide range of areas of social and economic policy.  Emma is an experienced economist and has previously held roles as a senior economist at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and as an economic adviser within the Scottish Government.

Fiona McHardy

Fiona McHardy is Research and Information manager and is responsible for the overall management and delivery of all research programmes at The Poverty Alliance.

Katherine Smith

Katherine is a Professor of Public Health Policy at the Strathclyde School of Social Work and Social Policy, and is co-director of Strathclyde's Centre for Health Policy.

Part of Collection