Findings from the Healthy Homes Initiative

“HHI is a brilliant part of dealing to the “old, cold homes of Southland” issue,” Soper said. “It has made an enormous difference in delivering healthier, warmer homes for low-income families and, particularly, families with children with health problems.  The practical difference in providing thermal curtains, better bedding and a “hand up” approach to assessing the homes involved really delivers on less hospital admissions and a happier and healthier environment.”Meanwhile, Awarua Synergy trained home assessor Kiri Pudda said she sees the positive outcomes of the HHI every day.

“We come in and do an in-home assessment and go through and see if there’s any interventions that we may be able to provide that can keep their home warm and dry, such as insulation and heating, bedding, curtains, showerheads and air purifiers.”Much of what she does centres around education, she said.

“It’s giving that little bit extra and helping them think twice and change the behaviours we’ve all grown up with that can be harmful, and also giving the reasons why,” she said.

“For example, I can explain that drying your clothes under the heat pump may get your clothes nice and dry but it drives damp into your carpets that your wee one is crawling around on and breathing in,” she says. “This increases unnecessary heat pump use, and worse, that moisture will travel to the coldest part of the home, which is usually the bedrooms we sleep in,” she said.

The latest report, Healthy homes Initiative: Five-year outcomes evaluation (November 2024) highlights that the Healthy Homes Initiative has had a significant impact for over 200,000 referred whānau members, including children, resulting in fewer hospital visits and trips to the GP.

It found the HHI is providing a significant long-term impact for whānau whilst producing an impressive return on investment to the public healthcare sector. School absences for ill-heath was reduced by 5 per cent, equating to an additional 5,309 more days in school.

The rate of hospitalisations per person following the HHI intervention reduced by 18.6 per cent. This equates to 10,354 averted hospitalisations per year across the HHI. Additionally, those in the household who were hospitalised had less severe conditions, the report says. Furthermore, return on investment from the health sector was 507%. Primary costs associated with the HHI is staffing costs, estimated to be between $2,000 and $2,100 per referral. The costs of the programme to the health sector are estimated to have been recouped within a year, with healthcare benefits of approximately $95 million per year.

The Five-year outcomes evaluation was co-funded by Health NZ, Kāinga Ora – Homes and Communities and the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).  In addition, Awarua Synergy provides free Healthy Homes workshops to businesses and community groups, Beaton-Sikisini says.

“Everyone can learn something about heating their home,” she says. “We’ve had amazing feedback from businesses who say their staff haven’t stopped talking about the things they’ve learned.”