Helping tenants towards better pay

The increase of in-work poverty shows that, despite what we have been taught to believe, a job does not always provide protection.

For housing associations, it’s easy to see how this has happened. Low wages in the capital mean that more than 20% of employees are being paid below the London Living Wage.

The high cost of housing is also a key driver.

“Despite what we have been taught to believe, a job does not always provide protection.”

The majority of households in poverty in London are renters – nearly 80% of people in poverty live in either the private rented sector or in social housing.

These are the realities we now face as housing associations working to provide high-quality and affordable homes in a city where sometimes it can feel like the odds are stacked up against you.

Although the aims of the welfare reform agenda have in part been to reduce dependency and to promote employment, this latest profile reveals the increasing risk of poverty in London for those with (and without) a job.

Housing associations across the country are responding to welfare reforms in different ways, but most are doing what they can to sustain tenancies as much as possible.

“We offer training and employment programmes to help people upskill and to get better-paid jobs with more secure hours.”

For Peabody it has meant developing the most effective approach to lettings, affordability and support to prevent tenants from falling into arrears.

Yet as a social landlord, we at Peabody see our role as more than just providing housing: we are also here to build communities. The Peabody Community Foundation has worked to tackle poverty and increase household incomes.

For the past 20 years, we have forged a dedicated programme of community development for the people we house and support.

We do this by offering training and employment programmes to help people upskill and to get better-paid jobs with more secure hours.

Next week we expect hundreds of visitors to attend our free jobs and apprenticeships fair, where a range of employers from different industries will be ready to offer careers – not just jobs.

We use a ‘whole household’ approach to support the family, recognising that households often need to be supported together. For example, we know that tackling child poverty requires a focus not only on the child but also on their carers or parents.

We have also trained our frontline staff to understand the impact of welfare reforms on tenants, including those who are working, and how they can best navigate the changes.

“We have forged a dedicated programme of community development for the people we house and support.”

Many tenants are understandably not familiar with the wide-ranging changes being implemented, so we have continued to raise awareness and offer support, particularly among groups who are disproportionately affected.

As the numbers of the working poor in London continue to grow, more and more people are at risk of living in poverty despite having a job.

As a social landlord, our mission is to help people make the most of their lives by providing good-quality affordable homes, working with communities and promoting well-being.

This is why we do more than just offer homes. By supporting tenants to gain better pay and more secure employment, develop their skills and aspirations and invest in our communities, we not only better sustain our tenancies but are helping to change the face of poverty.

Veronica Kirwan, director of community programmes, Peabody