Reactions to racism reports, housing at #COP26 and more in this month’s Twitter round-up
A month in tweets: Inside Housing looks at how the sector responded on social media to climate change negotiations, revelations of racism in the sector – and a prize in memory of the late journalist Dawn Foster. Jess McCabe reports
ITV’s investigation into racist attitudes among social housing staff prompted significant discussion on #UKhousing. Former chief executive and SHOUT founder @tomemurtha summed up the mood:
More evidence of unfit homes and racism in social housing exposed by @itvnews. Have we learned nothing in 40 years? These reports shame us all. It’s time to strictly enforce a no tolerance approach to racism in all forms. https://t.co/Pv8JqjINZj
— Tom Murtha (@tomemurtha) November 9, 2021
Housing activist @KwajoHousing said:
This disappointed the most. I would say shocked and surprised but I’m not.
— KWAJO- Social Housing (@KwajoHousing) November 9, 2021
‘Racism within Social Housing’ @DanielHewittITV @itvnews pic.twitter.com/FUN7us0VCl
Domestic abuse charity @CassandraCentre added:
Really pleased to see @itvnews bite the bullet and address the obvious (and well documented) racism in social housing. We all see it. But rarely does the news cover it. https://t.co/xLObkIjiBu
— The Cassandra Centre (@CassandraCentre) November 10, 2021
@CeliaEquality added:
If you've worked in this sector, this won't surprise you in the least. https://t.co/f1OfAru9BY
— Celia_O #DoingDifferenceDifferently (@CeliaEquality) November 10, 2021
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COP26 – the international climate change negotiations that took place in Glasgow (above) – has been big news for the world, and inevitably for housing Twitter as well, with a day set aside for discussion of the built environment. Many in the sector got in on the discussions, including (West of Scotland Housing Association) @WSHAScotland, which announced:
Yesterday, we attended the first meeting of a Carbon Footprint Project Group. This joint project with 7 other RSLs and Carbon Change will establish carbon footprint baselines for each RSL and support opportunities to advance towards being Net Zero. #COP26 #OneStepGreener pic.twitter.com/HlvcRv0YzX
— West of Scotland H.A (@WSHAScotland) November 11, 2021
The Guardian’s story that asylum seekers in Glasgow had been sent letters by their housing provider – Mears – discouraging them from taking part in the protests around the conference, was widely discussed.
@Natasha_Walter, founder of the group Women for Refugee Women, tweeted her concerns. In The Guardian, Mears said the letter was intended to protect vulnerable service users who may not speak English well from getting unwittingly caught up in unsafe situations.
ConservativeHome deputy editor @CharlotteCGill was taking notes on how COP could inspire housing activism, suggesting international negotiations to address global housing issues:
Renters could learn a lot from environmental activists.
— Charlotte Gill (@CharlotteCGill) November 9, 2021
We need:
1) A spokesperson like Greta Thunberg, who goes around telling politicians they stole futures.
2) Our own COP - it's not only the UK that has a housing issue.
3) A Housing Committee (like the CCC).
4) Urgency.
Conservative Party member @marcusveniquis replied: “The problem is, Conservative rule is inexorably linked to Home Ownership. So if our party does not solve the housing crisis it will lose power.”
Beckie Kinsella (@BeckieKinsella), who used to work in communications for housing association Plus Dane, tweeted about her mum’s experience with her social landlord:
I may not working in #ukhousing anymore but pretty sure it's not the norm to send out eviction letters to someone with arrears of under £200 caused by bedroom tax, right?👀 Especially when they're showing willing and paying it off!! My poor mum was panicked and I'm fuming! 😤
— Beckie Kinsella (@BeckieKinsella) November 11, 2021
“I’m not surprised you’re angry. Doesn’t sound like a sensitive approach at all,” replied @MelanieJRees, retired head of policy at the Chartered Institute of Housing. “Makes you wonder how many others it’s happening to who don’t have a daughter who worked in housing for 6 years,” Ms Kinsella added. She didn’t name the housing association responsible.
In memory of former Inside Housing journalist Dawn Foster, a £1,500 essay prize was launched on the subject of the housing crisis. Dawn’s friend @Kirsty_CSk tweeted:
Incredibly proud to be launching this in Dawn’s memory today - come along if you’re in Glasgow, and I’ll post the live stream link too: https://t.co/Yr5uVUVWog
— Kirsty Connell-Skinner (@Kirsty_CSk) November 10, 2021
Who to follow
@KwajoHousing – activist who has been documenting problems in the sector on social and traditional media.
@Leadership2025 – an organisation which has a vision of dismantling structural inequality in housing, and aims to make leadership in the sector more diverse
@ZeroAmbitions21 – a new podcast for people who work in the built environment and who want to make an impact on carbon emissions
