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Victoria DingleVictoria is a fully involved resident living in Henley, a member of the Women’s Housing Forum, a regular Inside Housing columnist and ...more
Time for proper action on the Social Housing Green Paper
With the one-year anniversary of the government’s Social Housing Green Paper been and gone, frustration is growing. Meaningful action is long overdue, says Victoria Dingle
As a social housing tenant and board member, I welcomed the government’s Social Housing Green Paper that was published in August last year.
It felt like a breakthrough and that things would change. But a year on, has anything changed?
For those who live in social housing, or are on a waiting list, the green paper promised a lot.
With all those conversations with residents and housing associations, it felt like residents were finally having a say and being listened to.
What has happened since is some small changes, but not much action.
Now, there’s a new government and I wonder what action will ever take place. The people in power responsible for housing change regularly, housing secretaries and ministers come and go – how will anything ever get actioned if the individuals keep moving on?
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Last month Robert Jenrick was appointed housing secretary.
Before him, James Brokenshire was in the post for just over a year and Sajid Javid was in the role for less than two years. The position should be filled by someone who will remain long enough to ensure changes occur.
Mr Javid is now chancellor and announced earlier this month that £600m will be used to fund infrastructure projects that will help deliver 50,000 homes.
Although this sounds positive, the announcement stated that it will “help deliver five new projects in London, central Bedfordshire and Essex – all areas of high demand for new housing”.
But what about other areas across the country? The areas chosen undoubtedly do need funding, but are not the only ones that need government money and support.
The conversation and consultations following the green paper drew to a close last November and it was hoped that a white paper would appear in spring of this year. Now we are approaching autumn and nothing has happened.
When Theresa May was prime minister she said that actions would be published in September.
Now we have a new prime minister, will these plans still be published or even discussed further?
The only priority that seems to be on anyone’s mind at the moment is a no-deal Brexit. Would a no deal mean even more negative news for those in social housing?
Some action has taken place and the green paper has, at the very least, started conversations.
Some housing associations have started taking action that will empower residents and allow effective resolution of complaints.
“Now we have a new prime minister, will these plans still be published or even discussed further? The only priority that seems to be on anyone’s mind at the moment is a no-deal Brexit”
They are building more houses to expand the supply and support homeownership.
However, with these small steps come other issues. Are affordable homes actually affordable to social housing tenants? More definitely needs to be done.
Then there’s the still daily fight by those in social housing against the stigma surrounding being a social housing tenant.
Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy and the green paper, social housing has been discussed more, especially in the media. But words are one thing – action is still needed.
Everyone deserves a safe, affordable, decent home that they can call their own and the government needs to take action now to support people in this.
Victoria Dingle, tenant non-executive director, Soha Housing
