The views expressed in this presentation are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the

views or policies of the

Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), its Board of Directors, or the governments
they represent. ADBI does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this paper and accepts no responsibility for any
consequences.

Housing
for
Health©

HfH is a repairs and maintenance program with

Safety and Health as its primary focus.
National Housing for Health Projects
 9 Healthy Living Practices
4 Critical Healthy Living Practices

1. Ability to Wash People

(especially children)
2. Ability to Wash Clothes &
bedding
3. Removing Waste
4. Improving Nutrition
and Food Safety

5. Reducing impact of
Crowding
6. Reducing impact of Pests,
Animals & Vermin
7. Controlling Dust
8. Temperature Control
9. Reducing Trauma
Background to Housing for Health
 HfH is a licenced methodology
– Developed in SA by Healthabitat. Also used in WA, NT,
QLD, TSI & NSW
 Survey AND fix program

 All works prioritised in

terms of impact on
– safety
– health

 Seven main stages in

projects
Basic tool kit used by survey teams
7 Stages to Housing for Health

1. Project Establishment

2. Community selection, feasibility and

prepare preliminary budgets

3. Preparing to implement Survey Fix 1

4. Survey Fix 1

5. All fix works

6. Survey Fix 2

7. Reporting back
 4. Survey / Fix 1 including Training

Shower rose
repairs

Community teams are

trained in the survey process Teams test (~240 items), record results & fix

Data entered &

Trades follow-up that day

Trade lists printed

4. Survey / Fix 1
Teams
•surveying
•testing
•fixing

The survey teams fixed 384 items in 139 houses during SF1
4. Survey / Fix 1
•Tool box audit
•Items supplied for team fix
•Replaced items
3. Trade Fix Works
•2 Plumbing Teams
•2 Electrical Teams
5. Trade Fix Works
What gets fixed?

Fur
means
current
‘leaks’

Mice Reason
chewed for
cables failing

Light fitting from ceiling used as bedroom by

mice….. electrical safety and fire risk
5. Trade Fix Works
What gets fixed?

Replacing a shower rose…washing people

5. Trade Fix Works
What gets fixed?

Tap repairs to the kitchen sink…improving

nutrition
 6. Survey Fix 2
7. Reporting back & project closure
Comparision of Healthy Living Practices Survey Fix 1 (before any fix work commenced)
to Survey Fix 2 (after fix works have been completed)
100 96 96
92
87 86
81
76
75
% houses functioning OK

68

57 58

48
50

36
32
29

25 22
17
12
9
4 2
2
0
0
Safety: Power, Safety: Safety: Gas Safety: Safety: Fire, Washing people:Washing people:Washing clothesRemoving wasteRemoving waste Improving
water, waste Electrical Structure and warning and Shower working Children in and bedding: safely: Flush safely: All drainsnutrition: Store,
connected system access escape basin/bath/tub Laundry services toilet working working prepare, cook
food

Critical Healthy Living Practices

% houses functioning OK at Survey Fix 1 % houses functioning OK at Survey Fix 2

All works are prioritised :

a) Safety first
Electrical, fire, gas, structural

b) Providing a Healthy Living Environment

1. Ability to Wash People (especially

children) Critical
2. Ability to Wash Clothes/bedding Healthy
3. Removing Waste Living
Practices
4. Improving Nutrition and Food Safety
 FHBH Priorities
All works are prioritised :

Safety first
Electrical
Ceramic fuses replaced
with safety switches Gas
Faulty wiring caused this
Fire batten holder to catch fire

Structural
Waste issues

Gas installation to code

Unsafe bathroom floor

Leaking septics
1. Ability to wash people (especially children)
Hot water
available
Cold water Plastic taps have high Adequate hot
available failure rate water?
Temperature
Hot regulated to
temperature avoid
OK scalding?

Shower
Taps: hot OK
Shower
taps: cold
OK
Shower
Rose OK
Shower
drainage OK

Metal fixed handle taps Shower rose repairs

2. Ability to wash clothes / bedding
W/M Space available Waterproof power
point in laundry
W/M taps: hot OK
W/M taps: cold OK Hot water systems with a
W/M drainage OK capacity to deal with crowded
conditions (where appropriate)
Laundry floor waste
OK
W/M Power point test
OK
Power point location
OK
Laundry Tub available
Laundry Tub secure
Laundry taps: hot OK
Laundry taps: cold OK
Laundry tub spout OK
Laundry tub drainage
OK

Provision of shelving and

machine waste diverter
3. Removing Waste
Inside the home

Cistern
OK
Refill time
OK
Full flush
test OK
Pan is OK

In the yard
Overflowing septics – pumped out
4. Improving Nutrition (prepare, store, cook food)
Kitchen available
Storage area (above
bench)
Bench material OK
New taps and
Sink available Splash spout, sealed
back OK splash back
Kitchen taps: hot water
& tap OK
Kitchen taps: cold
water & tap OK
Sink spout OK
Sink drainage OK
Cook top provided Improving the ability to store
prepare and cook meals in the
All hotplates & knobs home is a precursor to reducing
Working OK
dependence on convenience foods
Oven working OK
Fridge/freezer
available? 93 % houses have fridges -
Fridge temp OK only 50% work properly
Freezer temp OK
No survey without service

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