What’s the relationship between the human rights to health and housing?
- Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
- Type: News Item
- Published: 10th May 2021
With Shelter Scotland, the ALLIANCE commissioned researchers at The Poverty Alliance to find out.
With the prospect of a Scottish Human Rights Bill on the horizon that will bring international law on the rights to health and housing into Scots law, the ALLIANCE and Shelter Scotland wanted to know more about the relationship between these two rights. We asked The Poverty Alliance to carry out a desk-based research project of international evidence.
The researchers found that:
- Political and legal factors can prevent the realisation of the rights to health and housing by citizens.
- The effective realisation of the rights to health and housing requires legislation as well as accountability and responsibility amongst key stakeholders (e.g. national and local government, public services and the private sector).
- Rights-based, participative approaches at state level have a key role in aiding effective realisation of citizens’ rights to health and housing. For example, in Scotland, regulatory bodies support citizens to uphold their human rights through the Scottish Housing Regulator and the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.
- Local government is a key actor in the fulfilment of the rights to health and housing given its responsibility for delivery of direct services to citizens. Internationally, there are examples of local governments setting up human rights councils and local ombudsman to support citizens to uphold their rights.
- Data is key to monitoring progressive realisation of the rights to health and housing at state level. The United Nation’s Human Rights Index and the Universal Periodic Review serve as tools to assess and explore countries’ progression in the implementation of rights.
- Lack of resources, training and awareness present challenges to promoting human rights across public services. For the rights to health and housing to be effectively realised, a culture and ethos of recognising citizens as rights holders in public service design and delivery is required.
- In many states, health ministries have not engaged fully with the health impacts of housing, in part because the right to housing is often considered to be the responsibility of other government departments.
- There are many examples of an explicit focus on health as well as housing at state level within homelessness strategies in recent years. For example, the Housing First model has created effective systems of support that recognise the intersection between health issues and housing for at risk populations.
The full report is available to download at the link below.
End of page.
You may also like:
A newly identified security vulnerability affecting PHP software used by millions of websites worldwide requires immediate attention.
Continue readingFind out more about this pilot service for BSL users in Scotland.
Continue readingA phased campaign supports earlier CKD recognition, helping healthcare professionals deliver timely care and improve patient outcomes.
Continue readingOur response warns that Scotland cannot achieve a sustainable health & care system without greater investment in prevention and social care
Continue readingScottish Women and Girls in Sport Week 2026, organised by Active Scotland, runs 2-8 November.
Continue readingShare your experience to help shape Scotland’s work on antimicrobial resistance and infection prevention through national engagement.
Continue readingReport mapping the supports and services in place across Scotland during pregnancy and into the first few months of a baby’s life.
Continue readingPhD researchers from The Glasgow School of Art are seeking participants.
Continue readingWhat's working, what still needs to change and what Scotland must do to ensure every child can realise their right to the best health.
Continue readingA current research project is exploring the physical challenges faced day-to-day in care, both by carers and by the people they support
Continue readingYour feedback will shape an updated version of the toolkit.
Continue readingThe Scottish Transitions Forum hosted by ARC Scotland have launched the Compass National Data report for 2025-26.
Continue readingAre you blind or partially sighted? Share your experience of food packaging in a short UK-wide survey.
Continue readingFour free traineeships available in Scotland.
Continue readingLearn more about ishush - a free online support programme for adults with hyperacusis.
Continue readingApply to support equalities groups in Renfrewshire.
Continue readingConsultation launched for parents/carers, people with lived experience, and professionals.
Continue readingLearn more about Posterior Cortical Atrophy and why sensory care matters.
Continue readingNesta launch new report 'Getting it right for every baby' highlighting key challenges in the existing landscape of support.
Continue readingThe Oversight Board for the promise has launched their fourth report into Scotland’s progress in keeping the promise.
Continue readingUrgent investment needed to deliver fair, person centred social care in Scotland, say the ALLIANCE.
Continue readingOur presentation noted the negative effects of social care charging on human rights including health and adequate standard of living.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE publishes report outlining key learning from the delivery of Self Management for Life 2024 Small Grants.
Continue readingFor Menopause Month in October, the ALLIANCE and Scottish Government have brought together all our resources on menopause in one pack.
Continue readingNew report sets out action the Government must take to ensure people living with HIV can live well, free from stigma and discrimination.
Continue reading