Joining the dots
The next Welsh Government must put housing at the centre of its plans to help communities live healthy, prosperous and connected lives
GOVERNANCE
Image: Istock
Clarissa Corbisiero
Director of policy and external affairs, deputy chief executive, Community Housing Cymru
At the time of writing, Wales is about to go into a second lockdown. As we all reflect on what these new limitations mean for our lives, our health, our families, and our work for the next few weeks, we can’t escape the fact that the home we live in will make a difference.
Lockdown 2.0
I am writing this on the afternoon of the announcement of the national lockdown from our First Minister. My inbox, like so many others, is full of queries and points of detail on safety, repairs, keeping building sites open and housebuilding going.
Like so many colleagues across social housing and public services, this year has been defined by ensuring that the homes that we build and manage are safe, affordable, and adaptable. This work continues at pace and with more urgency than ever before.
But the big challenges to our climate, our economy, and the need to address poverty and inequality that exists right across Wales, remain. In many cases the pandemic has made these challenges even greater and the need to find solutions even more urgent. So where are we now?
Welsh elections
Our Welsh Parliament elections, due in May 2021, provide an opportunity for a national debate about the type of recovery we want. Of course every election matters. But this one provides us collectively with an opportunity to take a fresh look at old challenges, to raise our ambitions and to come back stronger.
At Community Housing Cymru, we think that this election represents an opportunity to join the dots. The age-old problem of integration and collaboration – whether it is between delivery partners or government departments – continues to frustrate us in Wales. Like it does in so many parts of the UK.
“At Community Housing Cymru, we think that this election represents an opportunity to join the dots. The age-old problem of integration and collaboration – whether it is between delivery partners or government departments – continues to frustrate us in Wales”
But we believe that our collective experience over the course of the pandemic has created a powerful message: the difference that a good and affordable home can make is difficult to ignore.
We are already seeing evidence of this in the thinking of our own government. The Welsh Government’s reconstruction plan highlights the importance of housing to health, the economy and climate change, across its many commitments for action. Many housing associations report that shared initiatives with local partners during the first wave of the pandemic, are opening doors and highlighting possibilities to do more – and better!
“We believe that our collective experience over the course of the pandemic has created a powerful message: the difference that a good and affordable home can make is difficult to ignore”
Campaigning
We are also trying to join the dots and break out of our housing silo. Our work to develop ideas for change for the next Welsh Government have not been developed in a housing vacuum. We are very grateful to the almost 100 partners, from the public, private and third sectors, who joined hundreds of housing association colleagues this summer to share insights into what steps would achieve a lasting difference.
While we have ideas about policy, structures and funding changes that would help, the bulk of our discussion was about how we work. Leadership, culture, risk-taking and confidence were our watchwords for change.
Therefore, for the 2021 election, our campaigning and lobbying activities will run in tandem with an innovation programme. This will unpick what we can practically do to make every action that housing associations take have a greater impact on individuals, families and communities.
At its heart, our election campaign has a simple ask of those vying to form the next Welsh Government: put homes at the centre of your plans to support the people of Wales to live healthy, prosperous, and connected lives.
