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Times have changed, but we still face a huge housing challenge
As we face up to a new political landscape, Charlie Norman assess the challenges the sector is confronted with
Last month, as a family, we celebrated the memory of my dad, John Norman.
He was an all round good egg: a brilliant dad, a successful business leader and a thoroughly decent human being.
Sadly, he died at the age of 53 while running a marathon in Majorca (doing what he loved best), supporting the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
I began my career in housing – in Salford City Council’s housing department – in 1989, when Margaret Thatcher was prime minister.
Along the way, there have been many inspirational people like my dad.
These have included the wonderful people I worked with in the Precinct and in Little Hulton in Salford; the tenacious folk who ran their housing co-operatives in Merseyside; the caring people who work in difficult circumstances at Mosscare St Vincent’s and our customers who face increasing challenges; plus a wild and wonderful array of leaders, partners and colleagues across the spectrum.
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My dad encouraged me to apply for my job in housing and, like most, I fell into this wonderful sector and have never looked back.
It’s rewarding and enriching, and I learn so much every day.
When I applied for the role, we were talking about a programme that he and I watched when I was at junior school that had a tremendous impact on us both.
It was a documentary showcasing the plight of people forced to sleep rough in London, through the lens of a BBC reporter who lived the experience for two weeks.
I remember feeling so shocked and angry. Sadly, this is how I still feel today.
So, Ms Thatcher was in power when I began my career. So much has changed, but so much hasn’t.
I remember physically drawing our arrears figures onto a hand-designed chart on the wall. And I recall our first personal computer – a massive one which we all shared as a team (I sound so old!).
We now live in a wonderful digital world with everything at our fingertips. Although I still think we have a long way to go and I am increasingly concerned about the impact of social media on society.
What has also changed is that we have a huge challenge on our hands. Our people are increasingly stepping in and filling in the gaps within left-behind communities as a result of the withdrawal of public services. What hasn’t changed is that we haven’t yet cracked the housing problem in our country.
It just isn’t right that 8.4 million people live in unsuitable and precarious housing.
This means people are forced to sleep rough and live in temporary and unsuitable homes. Many of these people have children and the fact is that we need at least 145,000 social homes a year just to keep up with demand.
“It just isn’t right that 8.4 million people live in unsuitable and precarious housing”
We have issues to tackle around social care and building safety, and we have to keep investing in our existing homes and communities – including the need to tackle the climate emergency.
One thing is for sure: we need to keep on doing the decent thing. And our sector is remarkably resilient in the face of instability and political change – I’ve seen it all over the past few decades.
We still have a huge crisis in this country and we must do something about it.
Every single human being should have the right to a decent place to call home that they can afford, where they can live in safety within supportive communities.
That right should transcend politics, and I live in hope that there is a new philosophy of spreading the love across the nation, encouraging ambition and opportunity for all, while at the same time addressing the impact of years of austerity.
As a sector, we need to work with the new government as it takes shape, champion the voices and rights of the most marginalised and do our very best to facilitate opportunity for all.
“I live in hope that there is a new philosophy of spreading the love across the nation, encouraging ambition and opportunity for all, while at the same time addressing the impact of years of austerity”
When I was growing up in Bolton, my dad would often take me to places in the Ribble Valley at the weekend, and in particular I always remember him chuckling at the words on a really old gravestone with no name in Whalley Abbey. I had a memorial slate made for his grave to mark the 30-year anniversary with those words, which reads:
“Spectators all as ye pass by,
As you are now, so once was I,
As I am now, so must ye be,
So prepare for death and follow me.”
Make of that what you will.
Charlie Norman, group chief executive, Mosscare St Vincent’s
