29/11/2023
Dear Members of the Senedd Finance Committee,
RE: Housing Support Grant Budget 2023/24
We know good quality housing predicts good mental health (Evans, et al. 2000). Feeling safe is central to being a happy and healthy person. It has been long known that feeling secure in our environment alongside our relationships with others is central to wellbeing. Knowing that you will have enough to eat and somewhere to live is a basic requirement for good mental health and wellbeing. Homelessness has been linked to greater anxiety and low mood in children and parents in homeless families, compared to those in poverty who are housed (Shinn, & Weitzman, 1996). Secure housing is likely to having a positive impact on wellbeing, given that moving house three or more times has been identified as a risk factor for increased emotional and behavioural problems in children (Buckner, 2008).
Punitive UK governmental policies combined with an out-of-control housing market have led to many people being uprooted from their homes. The numbers being made homeless following a private tenancy has also doubled over the past decade, indicating severe insecurity in the private rental sector. It is well known that people on low incomes tend to have smaller, denser and more localised support networks (Haung & Tausig, 1990). Being forced to move from established communities therefore is likely to be particularly problematic and a risk to mental health and wellbeing.
The instability in the housing sector puts pressure on our mental health services. Addressing the social determinants of health means prioritising and addressing people’s housing needs. This is vital to achieving the ambitions of the future generations act and the trauma informed society framework. Safe, secure and affordable housing is not only a mental health intervention but a trauma informed preventative measure as well.
We see the impact of insecure, unstable and unsafe housing on people in our clinical practice every day. We therefore support calls to protect and prioritise up lifting the housing support grant funding. We see this as a trauma-informed mental health intervention that will reduce demands and spend on mental health services in the short and over the long term. Whilst at the same time improving people’s lives and ensuring children have the circumstances they need for good mental health and a happy healthy future.
Yours sincerely,
1. Dr Jen Daffin, Community Clinical Psychologist – Chair PSC Cymru
2. Dr Elanor Maybury, Consultant Clinical Psychologist
3. Dr Kellie Turner, Clinical Psychologist
4. Rhiannon Peters, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
5. Dr Lynda Durell. Clinical Psychologist
6. Dr Hannah Wedge, Clinical Psychologist
7. Lauren Milton-McNally, Trainee counselling psychologist
8. Dr Rachel Evans, Clinical Psychologist
9. Dr Kiran Guye, Clinical Psychologist
10. Dr Dr Misbah Gladwyn-Khan, Clinical Psychologist
11. Dr Cathy Wood, Clinical Psychologist
12. Dr Maisy Stockdale, Clinical Psychologist
13. Laura McCarron, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
14. Gemma Wyatt, Trainee Counselling Psychologist
15. Claire-Marie Heaney, Systemic practitioner
16. Alkiviadis Fasoulis, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
17. Eira Fomicheva, Trainee Educational Psychologist
18. Dr Tim Hoare, Clinical Psychologist
19. Dr Jessica Broughton, Clinical Psychologist
20. Abigail Seabrook, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
21. Amber Ford, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
22. Dr Nicola Robinson Clinical Psychologist
23. Elaine Choi, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
24. Dr Tonia McGinty Counselling Psychologist
25. Dr Abigail Wright, Educational Psychologist
26. Dr Libby Erin, Consultant Clinical Psychologist
27. Dr Georgette Morrison, Clinical Psychologist
28. Dr Matt Yates, Clinical Psychologist
29. Dr Sarah Brown, Community and Clinical Psychologist
30. Mr Gareth Daniel, Msc Psychology Student
31. Stephanie Richards - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
32. Ffion Lewis - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
33. Dr Harriet Frampton, Clinical Psychologist
34. Rachel Johnson, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
35. Dr Rebecca Bale, Clinical Psychologist
36. Dr Katie Place, Clinical Psychologist
37. Dr Jessica Stolberg, Clinical Psychologist
38. Dr Naomi Swift, Consultant Clinical Psychologist
39. Dr Tom Wright, Clinical Psychologist
40. Chloe Newberry, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
41. Dr Jessamine Rayner, clinical psychologist
42. Pol Vorozhtsova (trainee) Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
43. Dr Aimee Pudduck, Consultant Clinical Psychologist
44. Dr Becky Hardiman, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
45. Poppy Wright, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
46. Dr Harriet Davies, Clinical Psychologist
47. Victoria Jones , Highly Specialist Family and Systemic Psychotherapist
48. Dr Judith Storey, Clinical Psychologist
49. Dr Sinead Morrison, Clinical Psychologist
50. Dr Catrin Nickson, Clinical Psychologist
51. Mulongwe Mwelwa, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
52. Dr Amy Crabb, Clinical Psychologis
53. Dr Rachel Evans, Clinical Psychologist
54. Alice Roberts, trainee clinical psychologist
55. Dr Ellen Revell, Clinical Psychologist
56. Dr Siwan Roberts, Senior Clinical Psychologist
57. Dr Laura Glinn, Clinical Psychologist
58. Dr Cerith Waters, Clinical Psychologist and Seniro Lecturer Cardiff University
59. Dr Hannah Miller, Clinical Psychologist
60. Miss Erin Morgan, Assistant Psychologist
61. Dr Rebecca Saltmarsh, Consultant Clinical Psychologist
62. Dr Rachel Sumner, Senior Research Fellow
63. Dr Cathy Harding, consultant clinical psychologist
64. Dr Jennifer McElwee Consultant Clinical Psychologist
65. Dr Hannah Meadham, Clinical Psychologist
66. Alina Apostol, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
67. Kat Rayson, Clinical Psychologist
68. Victoria Phillips Trainee Clinical Psychologist
69. Sandish Bining Trainee Clinical Psychologist
70. Kirstie Davies, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
71. Siana Fflur Trainee Clinical Psychologist
72. Ian Smillie, Educational Psychologist
73. Dr Kathryn Walters, Consultant Clinical Psychologist
74. Dr Sarah Morris, Clinical Psychologist
75. Jenna Hill Trainee Clinical Psychologist
76. Molly Batchelor, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
77. Georgia Roberts Trainee Clinical Psychologist
78. Kirsty Firman Trainee Clinical Psychologist
79. Dr Jenna Ivey, Clinical Psychologist
80. Lucy Abraham, Trainee Educational Psychologist
81. April Lloyd, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
82. Anna Dyson Trainee Clinical Psychologist
83. Heather Lawson, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
84. Professor Nicola Bowes
85. Surina Sharma - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
86. Lauren Hambleton, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
87. Leah Davies
88. Miss Alexandra Dumitru Assistant Psychologist
89. Joshua Noonan (Trainee Clinical Psychologist)
90. Dr Katie Finch, Principal Clinical Psychologist
91. Kate McKeown - Trainee Counselling Psychologist
92. Dr Emma Lloyd, Clinical Psychologist
93. Banika Ahuja Trainee clinical psychologist
94. Jessica Morgan Trainee Clinical Psychologist
95. Dr Shelley McCann Clinical Psychologist
96. Dr Alice Spiby-Davidson, Clinical Psychologist
97. Emily Draper, Trainee clinical psychologist
98. Dr Amy Curson, clinical psychologist
99. Dr Iona Tynewydd, Senior Clinical Psychologist
100. Dr Rebecca Saltmarsh, Consultant Clinical Psychologist
101. Dr Lauren Stead (Clinical Psychologist)
102. Dr Lauren Davies, Clinical Psychologist
103. Matthew Morgan, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
104. Dr Elen Thomas, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
References
Buckner, J. C. (2008). Understanding the impact of homelessness on children challenges and future research directions. American Behavioral Scientist, 51(6), 721-736.
Department of Communities and Local Government. (2014). Rough sleeping statistics England: Autumn 2013. London: DCLG.
Evans, G. W., Wells, N. M., Chan, H. E., Saltzman, H. (2000). Housing quality and mental health, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68, 3, 526-530
Haung, G., Tausig, M. (1990). Network range in personal networks, Social Networks, 12, 3, 261-268.
Shinn, M., & Weitzman, B. C. (1996). Homeless families are different. Homelessness in America, 109-122; Buckner, J. C. (2008).
Dear Members of the Senedd Finance Committee,
RE: Housing Support Grant Budget 2023/24
We know good quality housing predicts good mental health (Evans, et al. 2000). Feeling safe is central to being a happy and healthy person. It has been long known that feeling secure in our environment alongside our relationships with others is central to wellbeing. Knowing that you will have enough to eat and somewhere to live is a basic requirement for good mental health and wellbeing. Homelessness has been linked to greater anxiety and low mood in children and parents in homeless families, compared to those in poverty who are housed (Shinn, & Weitzman, 1996). Secure housing is likely to having a positive impact on wellbeing, given that moving house three or more times has been identified as a risk factor for increased emotional and behavioural problems in children (Buckner, 2008).
Punitive UK governmental policies combined with an out-of-control housing market have led to many people being uprooted from their homes. The numbers being made homeless following a private tenancy has also doubled over the past decade, indicating severe insecurity in the private rental sector. It is well known that people on low incomes tend to have smaller, denser and more localised support networks (Haung & Tausig, 1990). Being forced to move from established communities therefore is likely to be particularly problematic and a risk to mental health and wellbeing.
The instability in the housing sector puts pressure on our mental health services. Addressing the social determinants of health means prioritising and addressing people’s housing needs. This is vital to achieving the ambitions of the future generations act and the trauma informed society framework. Safe, secure and affordable housing is not only a mental health intervention but a trauma informed preventative measure as well.
We see the impact of insecure, unstable and unsafe housing on people in our clinical practice every day. We therefore support calls to protect and prioritise up lifting the housing support grant funding. We see this as a trauma-informed mental health intervention that will reduce demands and spend on mental health services in the short and over the long term. Whilst at the same time improving people’s lives and ensuring children have the circumstances they need for good mental health and a happy healthy future.
Yours sincerely,
1. Dr Jen Daffin, Community Clinical Psychologist – Chair PSC Cymru
2. Dr Elanor Maybury, Consultant Clinical Psychologist
3. Dr Kellie Turner, Clinical Psychologist
4. Rhiannon Peters, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
5. Dr Lynda Durell. Clinical Psychologist
6. Dr Hannah Wedge, Clinical Psychologist
7. Lauren Milton-McNally, Trainee counselling psychologist
8. Dr Rachel Evans, Clinical Psychologist
9. Dr Kiran Guye, Clinical Psychologist
10. Dr Dr Misbah Gladwyn-Khan, Clinical Psychologist
11. Dr Cathy Wood, Clinical Psychologist
12. Dr Maisy Stockdale, Clinical Psychologist
13. Laura McCarron, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
14. Gemma Wyatt, Trainee Counselling Psychologist
15. Claire-Marie Heaney, Systemic practitioner
16. Alkiviadis Fasoulis, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
17. Eira Fomicheva, Trainee Educational Psychologist
18. Dr Tim Hoare, Clinical Psychologist
19. Dr Jessica Broughton, Clinical Psychologist
20. Abigail Seabrook, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
21. Amber Ford, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
22. Dr Nicola Robinson Clinical Psychologist
23. Elaine Choi, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
24. Dr Tonia McGinty Counselling Psychologist
25. Dr Abigail Wright, Educational Psychologist
26. Dr Libby Erin, Consultant Clinical Psychologist
27. Dr Georgette Morrison, Clinical Psychologist
28. Dr Matt Yates, Clinical Psychologist
29. Dr Sarah Brown, Community and Clinical Psychologist
30. Mr Gareth Daniel, Msc Psychology Student
31. Stephanie Richards - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
32. Ffion Lewis - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
33. Dr Harriet Frampton, Clinical Psychologist
34. Rachel Johnson, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
35. Dr Rebecca Bale, Clinical Psychologist
36. Dr Katie Place, Clinical Psychologist
37. Dr Jessica Stolberg, Clinical Psychologist
38. Dr Naomi Swift, Consultant Clinical Psychologist
39. Dr Tom Wright, Clinical Psychologist
40. Chloe Newberry, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
41. Dr Jessamine Rayner, clinical psychologist
42. Pol Vorozhtsova (trainee) Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
43. Dr Aimee Pudduck, Consultant Clinical Psychologist
44. Dr Becky Hardiman, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
45. Poppy Wright, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
46. Dr Harriet Davies, Clinical Psychologist
47. Victoria Jones , Highly Specialist Family and Systemic Psychotherapist
48. Dr Judith Storey, Clinical Psychologist
49. Dr Sinead Morrison, Clinical Psychologist
50. Dr Catrin Nickson, Clinical Psychologist
51. Mulongwe Mwelwa, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
52. Dr Amy Crabb, Clinical Psychologis
53. Dr Rachel Evans, Clinical Psychologist
54. Alice Roberts, trainee clinical psychologist
55. Dr Ellen Revell, Clinical Psychologist
56. Dr Siwan Roberts, Senior Clinical Psychologist
57. Dr Laura Glinn, Clinical Psychologist
58. Dr Cerith Waters, Clinical Psychologist and Seniro Lecturer Cardiff University
59. Dr Hannah Miller, Clinical Psychologist
60. Miss Erin Morgan, Assistant Psychologist
61. Dr Rebecca Saltmarsh, Consultant Clinical Psychologist
62. Dr Rachel Sumner, Senior Research Fellow
63. Dr Cathy Harding, consultant clinical psychologist
64. Dr Jennifer McElwee Consultant Clinical Psychologist
65. Dr Hannah Meadham, Clinical Psychologist
66. Alina Apostol, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
67. Kat Rayson, Clinical Psychologist
68. Victoria Phillips Trainee Clinical Psychologist
69. Sandish Bining Trainee Clinical Psychologist
70. Kirstie Davies, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
71. Siana Fflur Trainee Clinical Psychologist
72. Ian Smillie, Educational Psychologist
73. Dr Kathryn Walters, Consultant Clinical Psychologist
74. Dr Sarah Morris, Clinical Psychologist
75. Jenna Hill Trainee Clinical Psychologist
76. Molly Batchelor, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
77. Georgia Roberts Trainee Clinical Psychologist
78. Kirsty Firman Trainee Clinical Psychologist
79. Dr Jenna Ivey, Clinical Psychologist
80. Lucy Abraham, Trainee Educational Psychologist
81. April Lloyd, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
82. Anna Dyson Trainee Clinical Psychologist
83. Heather Lawson, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
84. Professor Nicola Bowes
85. Surina Sharma - Trainee Clinical Psychologist
86. Lauren Hambleton, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
87. Leah Davies
88. Miss Alexandra Dumitru Assistant Psychologist
89. Joshua Noonan (Trainee Clinical Psychologist)
90. Dr Katie Finch, Principal Clinical Psychologist
91. Kate McKeown - Trainee Counselling Psychologist
92. Dr Emma Lloyd, Clinical Psychologist
93. Banika Ahuja Trainee clinical psychologist
94. Jessica Morgan Trainee Clinical Psychologist
95. Dr Shelley McCann Clinical Psychologist
96. Dr Alice Spiby-Davidson, Clinical Psychologist
97. Emily Draper, Trainee clinical psychologist
98. Dr Amy Curson, clinical psychologist
99. Dr Iona Tynewydd, Senior Clinical Psychologist
100. Dr Rebecca Saltmarsh, Consultant Clinical Psychologist
101. Dr Lauren Stead (Clinical Psychologist)
102. Dr Lauren Davies, Clinical Psychologist
103. Matthew Morgan, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
104. Dr Elen Thomas, Trainee Clinical Psychologist
References
Buckner, J. C. (2008). Understanding the impact of homelessness on children challenges and future research directions. American Behavioral Scientist, 51(6), 721-736.
Department of Communities and Local Government. (2014). Rough sleeping statistics England: Autumn 2013. London: DCLG.
Evans, G. W., Wells, N. M., Chan, H. E., Saltzman, H. (2000). Housing quality and mental health, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68, 3, 526-530
Haung, G., Tausig, M. (1990). Network range in personal networks, Social Networks, 12, 3, 261-268.
Shinn, M., & Weitzman, B. C. (1996). Homeless families are different. Homelessness in America, 109-122; Buckner, J. C. (2008).
