In this crisis, our sector has shown its true social purpose

Over the past couple of months I have seen that the housing association sector’s response is no different. Here, we have seen our sector’s leaders and frontline workers introduce amazing initiatives, often working in partnership with councils and local charities, and mobilising thousands of people to help the most vulnerable in our society.

Our care and support work are obvious examples of this – but there is a lot more that we should be proud of.

Of course, we know that we won’t always get everything right. It’s important that we as a sector continue to do our best for our residents, especially in these trying times.

And many housing associations are doing just that, motivated by that common social purpose which unites the whole sector.

We see this in the leaders who are pulling out all the stops to support residents and colleagues, the staff offering support to older or vulnerable residents, or the efforts to help rough sleepers find somewhere safe to stay.

Fundamentally, this is because housing associations have a very different relationship with the people and the communities they serve, compared with other landlords.

Instead of a transactional one, which sees tenants primarily as a source of income on a balance sheet, this crisis has revealed more than ever that our sector offers companionship, a vital lifeline for people, and support for the community.

For instance, I know of one housing association that redeployed its repairs and maintenance staff to refit an old hospital in the Midlands, turning it into a working 21-bed facility and so helping to take pressure off the main local hospital.

Meanwhile, another organisation in the North West is working with a local social enterprise to deliver food to vulnerable residents, as well as teaching young children how to cook over the internet.

“We can work to ensure that there is no return to rough sleeping when the lockdown ends. And we can use our roots in thousands of communities across the country to play a leading role in renewing the places hardest hit by this crisis”

And this support won’t finish when the lockdown starts to lift. As I wrote a few weeks ago, housing associations have a vital role to play in helping the country to recover from this crisis – our sector’s social purpose, combined with its economic weight, can bring something unique to the table.

We can help to stimulate the economy, employing people and supporting businesses, especially through our work to build new social housing.

We can work to ensure that there is no return to rough sleeping when the lockdown ends. And we can use our roots in thousands of communities across the country to play a leading role in renewing the places hit hardest by this crisis.

Like many of you, when I clap every Thursday night I’m also clapping for housing association staff, especially those who are working around the clock to support residents and communities across the country. They are truly inspirational, as they live out the sector’s values on the frontlines.

In their work, this crisis reveals our sector’s true social purpose.

Kate Henderson, chief executive, National Housing Federation