Housing conditions were ‘structural driver’ of poor mental health, Covid Inquiry hears

Overcrowding and poor housing or housing insecurity were, respectively, linked to higher levels of psychological distress and a known risk factor for poor mental health outcomes, she added.

“This was perhaps predictable in any crisis to which a necessary response was an instruction to stay at home,” Ms Blackwell acknowledged.

She also highlighted other housing-related challenges faced by different groups during the coronavirus pandemic.

A scheme brought in early during the pandemic that required councils to provide accommodation to people sleeping rough was “welcomed”. However, management of the Everyone In programme and it ending during the pandemic may have had an “adverse impact” on people experiencing homelessness.

People moving from street homelessness to Covid-secure accommodation had “divergent experiences” and the transition from face-to-face to remote contact with support workers was a “particular challenge”, Ms Blackwell said.

“This was an area where overlapping inequalities were particularly pronounced for those with complex needs: care leavers, people with mental health conditions, people at risk of domestic violence and migrant people,” she added.

“There were sometimes additional challenges for those keyworkers running the hostels, charged with the responsibility of managing the influx of people.”

Other topics Ms Blackwell highlighted included government policies to help people in insecure housing, such as the temporary eviction ban, and the impact on LGBTQ+ people who were living in unsupportive or unsafe housing situations during the pandemic.

On Monday, the Covid Inquiry began its 10th and last module. It explored the impact of the pandemic on society, including the effect of covid on vulnerable groups such as people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.

The inquiry spoke to housing organisations to gather evidence for this module during a roundtable in May 2025. Inside Housing reported on the key findings here.

Housing experts expected to give evidence to the inquiry in the coming weeks are: Tim Gutteridge, chief operating officer of Shelter England; Ruth Power, chief executive of Shelter Cymru; and Nicola McCrudden, chief executive of Homeless Connect, which works in Northern Ireland.

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry continues.