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Why I chose tenancy sustainment as the theme of my guest editorship
James Sanderson has guest-edited Inside Housing this week as part of his prize for winning Rising Stars 2017. Here he explains more about his chosen theme. Photography by Simon Brandon.
With the ink still drying on the Hackitt Review, the beginning of the inquiry into the Grenfell tragedy and the unprecedented position of housing high up on the political agenda, the focus on the role our sector plays has rarely been sharper.
Perhaps naturally, this has led to a not-insignificant amount of soul-searching.
We have also seen a reinvigorated desire on the part of social landlords to demonstrate the value that they are adding to society in the manner that they are taking on – with real determination – the challenges posed by the roll-out of Universal Credit, the funding crisis in social care or the national emergency surrounding homelessness.
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For the past two and a half years, my professional sights have been set firmly on how we can reimagine aspects of our housing services in Hackney – beyond bricks and mortar – by introducing a dedicated tenancy sustainment offer available to the one in four households in the borough living in council-managed homes.
This work will continue to evolve, but to date the positive progress we have made working together with some of the borough’s most vulnerable residents is striking.
We are making a real difference to how residents feel about their housing and well-being.
How we have taken this forward in our corner of east London has been inspired, in large part, by some of the amazing work in the sustainment sphere that I have seen and heard of from social landlords of all shapes and sizes across the country.
What makes this even more impressive is that this work is happening within a tumultuous operational environment against a backdrop of relative political uncertainty.
We can, and do, have a positive impact on the lives of households and communities when we work together.
In view of the above, it was clear where to look when considering a theme for my guest editorship of Inside Housing.
Despite being at the very heart of what we do, the collective effort that we put into working with our residents and other services to sustain tenancies often goes below the radar.
I sought to celebrate and provide a flavour of this often under-reported sphere. We explore the background to why and how organisations opt to develop sustainment services and take an in-depth look at the experiences of people who have worked with these projects.
"I sought to celebrate and provide a flavour of this often under-reported sphere."
I fully concur with recent remarks by Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, that “housing is the arm of the welfare state that has been amputated”; but in spite of this, many of us continue to work tirelessly, and with great success, to ensure those living in our homes continue to have a solid foundation upon which happy and fulfilling lives can be built.
As social landlords, the challenge to continuously go beyond bricks and mortar should always be a core part of our business. After all, if it isn’t, are we really any different from our counterparts in the private sector?
James Sanderson, resident sustainment manager, Hackney Council
James Sanderson
Rising Stars winner 2017 James Sanderson is this week guest editing Inside Housing and has commissioned a number of articles on his chosen theme 'tenancy sustainment'.
Pieces commissioned by Mr Sanderson so far:
Strategies to sustain tenancies Support to sustain tenancies is increasingly important for tenants and landlords. Tim Clark and Jess McCabe speak to tenants and staff from two landlords to find out about the difference it can make
Keeping people in their homes It’s important to offer well-being services to those with complex conditions, writes Nick Hodgskin of Hanover Housing Association
With the right support everybody can succeed in their tenancy Crisis runs a training programme to help people stay in their tenancies. Chris Hancock explains more
The battle to sustain tenancies Welfare reforms have made affording the rent much trickier for some tenants. So, what steps can landlords take to help out and fulfil their social mission?
Why I chose tenancy sustainment as the theme of my guest editorship James Sanderson has guest-edited Inside Housing this week as part of his prize for winning Rising Stars 2017. Here he explains more about his chosen theme.