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From the frontline – Aaron Gordon
Aaron Gordon, allocations assistant at Northampton Partnership Homes, talks about the need to help people on the lower bands of the housing register and about his dislike of cheese on pizza
What does your job involve?
I arrange viewings and sign-ups for people on the housing register who have been offered a home with Northampton Partnership Homes. My team manages the voids process and the allocation of homes.
How did you get into housing?
I began my career in housing about nine years ago, through a scheme at the job centre. I started as a filing clerk on a temporary contract. Then I had an opportunity to get involved with applications in the rehousing team. A few different jobs in, I’ve now progressed into rehousing full-time, which I love.
What would you change about the sector if you could?
I’d like to find a long-term solution to help people on the lower bands of the housing register. Applicants in lower bands can wait a long time for housing to come up.
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What’s the best thing about your job?
I love giving people the good news that they’ve been accepted and that their home is ready for them to move into.
And the most challenging?
Catering for each applicant’s needs. I really like to see people happy. When you can’t offer housing to someone because their need isn’t as great as others, that’s hard to deal with.
What is your dream job?
I’m not one of those who has ever really had a dream job. My aim is always to progress from the last job. I’ve found my feet in housing, though, so I’d say housing!
What does a good day look like?
A good day is a busy day (that’s most days in rehousing). I like getting on with the job and being involved in the day-to-day.
How about a bad day?
When I make a mistake. When you feel something has gone wrong, it all seems to go wrong. I’m pretty relaxed usually, so my approach is to take a step back, take my time and get it right next time.
What’s the first thing you’d do if you became prime minister?
I would build more social housing to suit our tenants, and review allocations to reduce waiting times and get people into homes sooner.
What’s the most private thing you’d be willing to admit to a colleague?
I won’t eat a pizza if it’s got cheese on it. Cheese might be the base of most pizzas, but it didn’t come first. The marinara was created in Naples in around 1735.
