We believe everyone should be proud of where they live. Yet for many people living in social housing, that isn't always the experience. Negative stereotypes and assumptions continue to shape how residents are perceived and, in some cases, how they are treated.
Research has shown that nearly half of social housing residents have experienced prejudice or discrimination because of their housing status, while more than a third have felt embarrassed about where they live. Stigma doesn't just affect people's feelings about their home. It can influence opportunities, relationships and everyday interactions with organisations and services. Some residents report that it has affected employment prospects, while others say they have experienced judgement from public services, businesses and wider society.
We know that social housing provides safe, secure and affordable homes for thousands of people. Our residents are parents, carers, key workers, volunteers, students, business owners and retirees. They make a huge contribution to our communities every day, but too often the public conversation fails to reflect that reality.
That's why we're committed to playing our part in challenging housing stigma and ensuring residents' voices are heard. Real change starts with understanding people's lived experiences and using that insight to influence how services are delivered, how communities are portrayed and how social housing is discussed more broadly.
To help build that understanding, some residents will shortly receive an email invitation to take part in a survey being carried out by the G15 group of London's largest housing associations, of which we are a member. The survey will help gather up-to-date insight into residents' experiences and identify where further action is needed to tackle stigma and promote a more accurate, positive understanding of social housing.
If you receive an invitation, we encourage you to take part. Every response will help ensure that residents' experiences are at the heart of the conversation and help shape future action across the housing sector.
