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How our new campaign will put Housing at Scotland’s Heart
Housing associations help us to build a more socially just society, but that is not always the public perception. Our new campaign will help to put social housing at the heart of Scotland’s future, writes Sally Thomas
Representing the social housing sector is a privilege: but not always easy. Our sector rightly faces regular scrutiny, and it can be hard to find space for the story of our homes and what they mean. Because to me it’s clear that housing associations change lives – they lift people out of poverty, provide thriving communities and help us build a more socially just society. But we know that the public perceptions don’t always match that.
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That’s why at the Scottish Federation of Housing Association’s (SFHA) annual conference today (6 June), we’re launching the Housing at Scotland’s Heart campaign, shining a spotlight on what affordable homes actually mean to people. As part of that, we spoke to three wonderful tenants for a short film – Alec, Hazel and Sylwia, all of them making it as clear as daylight that their home has transformed their lives. Alec perhaps summed it up best: “With good housing, you can be the best version of yourself. It’s not just a roof over your head, it’s your life’s opportunities.”
Our members provide the life opportunities through a huge array of support to the people they house. Ahead of the conference, we conducted a survey of 45 housing associations, representing over 85,000 tenants, which showed that at least 95% provide financial support to their community, 58% provide access to food banks, 58% facilitate clubs and other activities, 62% offer mental health support and 58% provide help with employability.
That our members provide all of this is, of course, no surprise to me. They work tirelessly to support tenants and always will. In the face of multiple crises over the past few years, I’ve seen housing associations and co-operatives consistently step up to ensure that their tenants stay afloat.
So we need to tell that story. We have to show the huge value to society that social housing provides, that it’s so much more than simply a roof over your head. Home is the basis for everything else – our health, our job opportunities and the childhoods we all deserve. Making sure that someone has a safe, warm and affordable home is one of the biggest differences we can make to people’s lives.
Housing associations and co-operatives give people the start they need – people like Alec. Beyond just providing that bedrock, they directly tackle poverty and inequality every day. They support tenants with access to social security, employment, healthcare and so much more, sustaining tenancies and helping to create successful lives.
Social housing is so much more than a home at an affordable rent. They are a foundation for our lives – where we bring up our families, socialise with friends, and engage in thriving communities. Our life’s opportunities. A place where we feel safe, comfortable and connected. And with Housing at Scotland’s Heart, we’ll continue to tell that story.
Sally Thomas, chief executive, SFHA
