Healthy Homes Solutions
Providing energy safeguarding to 8,000 vulnerable households across southern England
Our project at a glance
- Strategic priority area: Targeting geographic communities most at risk of fuel poverty
- Support target: 820,000 households over 21 months
- Duration: July 2024 to March 2026
- Investment: £619,116 over 21 months
- Forecast SROI: £2.36
Using the service has given me great peace of mind. I have received a free carbon monoxide alarm which is a massive help and I'm very grateful for it. Obviously, some of the services available will take a while but at least I know there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Louise
Vulnerability Registration Service user
Why we’re working together
Fuel poor households often require significant renovations to their homes to make them fit for purpose. While funding may be available for energy efficiency improvements, many households are not clear on whether they’re eligible for these schemes.
Within its National Householder Database, Healthy Homes Solutions has identified more than 37,000 households across our Southern region who are in extreme poverty and living in energy inefficient homes with an EPC of D, E, F or G.
Despite living in extreme poverty, it’s not always easy for people to ask for help or access support they need. They may also not be aware they’re eligible for certain support services, such as the Priority Services Register.
We’re partnering with Healthy Homes Solutions on an integrated data-driven approach to proactively identify and support vulnerable households to access key energy safeguarding services to help maintain a safe and warm home.
Through the Vulnerability Registration Service (VRS) Healthy Homes Initiative we’re providing vulnerable households with easy access to services that can help alleviate fuel poverty and improve financial resilience.
Project objectives
- Offering 20,000 households support on how to maintain a safe and warm home
- Providing 8,000 households with one-to-one energy advice
- Promoting the Priority Services Register and helping eligible households sign up for the free service
- Raising awareness of carbon monoxide (CO) safety
- Helping vulnerable households to access specialist support from our Safe & Warm community partners
How we’re working together
One-to-one energy safeguarding support
Using data from its National Householder Database, the Healthy Homes Solutions team is proactively identifying and engaging vulnerable households to offer support in accessing energy safeguarding services.
We’re using a targeted, multi-channel approach to reach vulnerable households, including social media, email and text message. We’re also testing the effectiveness of printed materials through partnerships with housing associations and local authorities.
Through one-to-one sessions, the team guides households through various support options that can improve their living conditions and reduce energy costs. As well as educating households on available support services, we’re also able to register households directly for services to save households time, effort and worry.
By tailoring our support to each individual households, we’re able to effectively help alleviate the immediate needs and pressures faced by households in fuel poverty as well as support their long-term health, wellbeing and financial resilience.
How to get involved
Accessing the VRS Healthy Homes Initiative
Our Safe & Warm community partners operating within our Southern network area can refer households for support through the dedicated VRS Healthy Homes Initiative website.
If you live in the south of England and need support to stay safe and warm at home, please register on the VRS Healthy Homes Initiative website.
Becoming a Healthy Homes Solutions partner
You can find out more about working with Healthy Homes Solutions to help energy inefficient and vulnerable households improve their homes on the organisation’s website.
The VRS Healthy Homes Initiative highlights the critical challenges faced by vulnerable and fuel-poor households. Our initiative, in partnership with SGN, is instrumental in addressing these issues and helping the homes most in need. This initiative not only helps reduce energy costs but also significantly improves health and wellbeing and helps make homes safer and healthier.