Social housing: radical reform through better collaboration, interdependent working and technological innovation
Kate Davies, Managing Director at Buena Ltd, has created a White Paper which captures issues troubling the people who run housing associations, and those they serve, and suggests how information technology could aid a breakthrough.
Sadly, many people believe that housing associations are no longer able to meet the expectations of their customers. Tenant satisfaction is falling, living conditions are substandard and the technology they rely on is fragmented and disconnected, costly and inadequate for the task. Organisational change within housing associations, linking the interests of residents with the physical needs of their homes, is necessary.
Interdependent working within and between housing associations is essential to encourage better long-term technology investment. Finally, a national database of social homes using open data on the quality and condition of the stock is promoted to improve transparency, to better inform choice, investment decisions and resident satisfaction. To achieve all of this will take time and commitment, but with the right vision and determination we can deliver so much more effectively for our residents.
This White Paper has been written to capture issues troubling the people who run housing associations, and those they serve, and suggests how information technology could aid a breakthrough. For over 30 years, I worked in social housing for local authorities and housing associations. Across my time in the sector, although technology has increased our productivity and provided solutions to some of the age-old problems, the digital age potentially offers exciting, new possibilities.
Over six months I have sought views, read papers and researched options. I interviewed and took submissions from over 20 different leaders both in housing associations and those providing services to them. Everybody who took part in the research was motivated by a desire to improve the service offered to the residents of social housing and felt that digital and technology had a key role to play. However, I am solely responsible for the content and proposals.
I hope to show the importance of interdependent working enabled by information technology, harnessing the growing significance of data; and demonstrate its value in empowering tenants.
Report outline
The White Paper is in four parts:
- Part one: summarises today’s problems.
- Part two: covers collaboration and interdependency.
- Part three: suggests the next steps.
- Part four: credits those who contributed.
Read the full White Paper by Kate DaviesÂ
To discuss this article, or issues raised in it, feel free to email: james.tickell@campbelltickell.com or call +44(0)20 8830 6777
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