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Social housing – a lifeline, even when you least expect it
Protecting the housing stock available for social renting ensures that safe and secure accommodation is available for those who need it most, writes Charlie Pears Wallace
Housing Options Scotland is a charity that works in 28 of the 32 council districts in Scotland to help vulnerable citizens, such as veterans and disabled or older people, to find ‘the right home in the right place’.
Our clients have hugely varied needs, but often, it is social housing that provides suitable alternative accommodation and security for these vulnerable citizens.
Social housing is recognised as a necessary provision in Scotland and heavily protected. In 2014, Scotland scrapped Right to Buy to protect the housing stock available for social renting. This ensures that safe and secure housing is available for those who need it most, such as people who require a place adapted to their needs.
“Our chair, Margaret Follon, could never have predicted her need for social housing, which came to her later in life”
Our chair, Margaret Follon, could never have predicted her need for social housing, which came to her later in life.
“In 2009, I was living in a third floor tenement flat in Leith, in Edinburgh,” she says. “I had a busy social life, I was generally fairly active. One Tuesday, I had been to the gym and I felt a pain in the back of my neck. I thought I had pulled a muscle. But after taking medical advice, I was sent to hospital and it turned out that I had an abscess on my spine.”
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Surgery and an extensive stay in hospital followed. Margaret was eventually allowed to return to home for Christmas, but quickly found that her flat could no longer accommodate her needs – she was now a wheelchair-user and the wheels kept getting caught in the door frames, for example.
Margaret began to panic, as she wasn’t sure what to to do next. Thankfully, another patient made her aware of Housing Options Scotland and after being visited by one of the team, she realised there were more options available to her.
“One option I was made aware of was joining the social housing register, which I had never heard of”
“I was frightened and it was hard coming to terms with the changes,” she says. “One option I was made aware of was joining the social housing register, which I had never heard of. I didn’t know I was entitled to be listed on it, as I owned my own flat.”
We then helped Margaret to find a ground-floor property in a sheltered development, which enabled her to feel safe and travel to work. Though her life had changed immeasurably, the housing we found her helped her to recover and maintain her independence.
Olivia Lindsay, our head of casework services, explains the role social housing plays in helping our clients: “Often, people do not think social housing could be an option for them. However, for many, it is a lifeline for security. Even with the introduction of the private residential tenancy, renters can be asked to leave unexpectedly and find themselves with nowhere to go. Social housing offers greater security and many turn to it, having been let down in the private sector.”
“The effects of the pandemic are sure to result in a surge in need for social housing, so its availability will be more important than ever”
The effects of the pandemic are sure to result in a surge in need for social housing, so its availability will be more important than ever.
With the number of residents in temporary accommodation at an all time high in Scotland at the moment, we have never been busier. But thanks to social housing, there remains a safe and adaptable housing provision for those who need it.
Charlie Pears Wallace, sales and marketing manager, Housing Options Scotland
