Following the tragic death of a two year old boy, Awaab Ishak – which was officially attributed to excessive damp and mould in his home, Jim Shannon MP, the Chair of the Healthy Homes and Buildings APPG, has written to the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Rt Hon. Michael Gove MP asking him to take immediate and urgent action to ensure the nation’s homes and buildings do not cause or exacerbate poor health and wellbeing.
In his letter, he highlighted that as winter approaches and temperatures drop there will be a record number of excess winter deaths. Those living in ‘poor quality’ housing will not be able to keep their homes properly ventilated, warm and dry, and this dire situation will only be exacerbated by the cost of living and fuel crises.
He further drew attention to the Healthy Homes and Buildings APPG’s new campaign ‘Healthy Homes for Healthy Britain.’ This campaign aims to raise public awareness of the UK’s unhealthy housing stock and how that impacts the nation’s health. It calls on Government to take forward the recommendations made in the Healthy Homes and Buildings APPG’s White Paper and to use a joined-up and holistic approach when dealing with the nation’s housing and health & wellbeing.