9 March 2021
COVID-19 – Inequalities in Housing and Poverty – HPSN Webinar 3rd March 2021
Watch the video on YouTube
On Wednesday 3 March 2021 c72 people (the highest to date!) attended the latest Hants & IoW Social Prescribing Network’s (HSPN) Webinar entitled ‘COVID-19 – Inequalities in Housing and Poverty’. The Webinar presenters came from Hampshire County Council, Hart District Council and the housing sector. Presenters shared their experience and expertise, including on the impact of COVID-19 for the Hampshire communities they support.
After new and existing HSPN members & guests were welcomed – Tim Houghton, Community First’s Chief Executive introduced the Webinar by explaining the impact of COVID-19 on Hampshire’s communities – how the conditions around individual’s impact upon them in terms of risk and also the additional complex layer of ethnicity. Tim then explained how the Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise sector is supporting those in need during the pandemic – using some countywide examples.
Rosie Fowler, Health and Wellbeing Project Officer, Hart District Council and Abbie Twaits, Senior Public Health Practitioner, HCC Public Health, Adults’ Health & Care highlighted the importance of housing as a social determinant of health. A range of impactful ‘Healthy Homes’ statistics and graphs were shared – illustrating the critical need for safe and stable homes. The presentation closed with a summary of training and signposting needs identified by a recent Workforce Development survey.
Next Ruth Goncalves, Housing Manager, Abri, began by defining the levels and causes of hoarding in Hampshire in terms of Compulsive/Generalist, Bibliomania and Animal hoarding. The characteristics of hoarding were explained, the correlation to fire safety, how the multi-agency response operates in terms of the hoarding journey and how Hampshire is responding to the increase in hoarding cases.
Finally, Angela Gill, Hants & IoW Social Prescribing Network (HSPN) Facilitator, shared highlights from the recent HSPN members’ survey. This identified some immediate training needs, how members are currently accessing support, which Social Prescribing organisations they are interested in and what barriers they are encountering during COVID-19. A response will follow from the HSPN Steering Group.
An engaged audience logged questions and observations via ‘Chat’ after each presentation. Previous HSPN Webinars are also available on GVA’s Social Prescribing webpage. The next HSPN Webinar will place on Wednesday 16 June 2021 from 1-2pm. Please contact lin.dudman@cfirst.org.uk to register if you are not an HSPN member and would like to attend &/or be kept up-to-date.