Individuals - Healthy Homes

Healthy Homes

Healthy Homes has been operational within the City of Westminster and Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea since 2000. It was initially funded through the Energy Saving Trust as a three-year beacon project. The scheme was so successful that both councils agreed to continue funding.

Funding is now provided by the following organisations;

Healthy Homes provides domestic energy efficiency measures to residents whose health, in the opinion of frontline health workers, would improve significantly from dryer and warmer homes. The majority of referrals are from the health sector and all frontline workers are supported with training, advice and information.

To date Healthy Homes has trained over 400 health, social and community workers. Healthy Homes visits around forty local GP surgeries each year - speaking to staff handing out leaflets, posters and information as well as promoting the free training service provided for the health service. Below is details of some of the services include:

Free phone advice line

The Healthy Homes scheme operates a dedicated free phone advice line that provides advice to both residents and health professionals and is the first point of contact for potential referrals. Once the referral is received the resident is assessed on their personal needs and if appropriate is referred for grants or discounts. In many cases Healthy Homes acts as a facilitator between residents, the council, outside agencies, government grant providers and charitable foundations.

Grant referrals

There are plenty of grants and discount schemes available for energy efficiency measures, particularly for homeowners and those renting from private landlords. We keep up to date in regards to schemes and changes so that our clients can get all the advice they need in one place.

Emergency Heating:

Healthy Homes has a limited stock of portable heaters that can be distributed to clients who have no heating until we find an appropriate solution. This service has proved to be very useful and heaters are seldom in the office for long.

Emergency fund:

A limited discretionary fund offering assistance to clients who are unable to get essential help from other sources.

Advocacy for tenants

Healthy Homes provide advocacy between individuals and private landlords, Tenant Management Organisations and Housing Associations. We will provide information, encouragement and enforcement where necessary, to private sector landlords. The scheme will also ensure that tenants within the social sector housing, is helped to the standards set by the council.

For more information about this project, please contact Irene Fernow at irene.fernow@ecsc.org.uk