WHAT IS HHI?
The Healthy Homes Initiative (HHI) is one of the collaborative programmes 20 Degrees works with. The Healthy Homes Initiative (HHI) is a Ministry of Health initiative that currently operates with the support of 11 District Health Boards throughout the North Island. The BOPDHB is the lead agency for the delivery of HHI in the Bay of Plenty. HHI has a core focus on achieving warm, dry and healthy housing for low-income families with hapu māmā's and children aged between 0 and 6.
If your home is cold and damp and you have children under 6 years of age, or are about to have children and you are on a low income, HHI will visit your home for free and develop with you an individualised action plan for a warmer, drier, healthier home. HHI then helps your family get the interventions and support needed to create a better living environment, focusing on four things:
- Access to insulation, curtains, beds, bedding, carpet squares, draught proofing, heating sources, and child safety devices
- Applications for critical repairs or minor repairs and maintenance
- Education & advice supporting changes to ensure the house is kept warm and dry
- Advocacy with landlords for improvements and MSD for social housing
20 Degrees seeks to support the HHI plan that has been made, and will support the whānau with minor repairs and maintenance, and the provision of DIY workshops and Healthy Housing education.
SHOULD I APPLY FOR BOTH HHI AND 20 DEGREES?
No, this is not necessary. If you are a low-income family with a child under 6, you should request a referral through HHI. The HHI team will then make an application to 20 Degrees if there are any minor repairs or maintenance needed, 20 Degrees will come in and fix those as part of the collaborative relationship between the programmes. 20 Degrees will also support DIY workshops and housing performance workshops.
HOW DO I GET A REFERRAL FOR HHI?
You can either self refer by clicking the button below, or you could call us on: 022 4972529 or Facebook us: https://www.facebook.com/bophe...