2 minute read
The last word
By Sarah Wallis, Support Manager, Poole Housing Partnership
Why is it important for housing organisations to tackle loneliness?
During lockdown many of us have experienced feelings of loneliness and isolation, giving us an insight into the experience of millions of people whose lives are adversely affected each year. Housing organisations have privileged access to a wide range of people; we’re not defined by age range or specific issues as other service providers are; we house everyone. It’s because of this that we understand, not only the loneliness felt by an isolated older person, but also by a young care leaver, a single parent, a couple whose children have flown the nest, a tenant in recovery from drug and alcohol issues. We also understand how this can develop into isolation which harms a person’s wellbeing, leading to physical and mental poor health, and how this, in turn, increases the demand on health and social services and places extra pressure on our housing function.
Housing organisations are at the heart of communities and in a unique position to reach out and connect people. We’ve become intrinsic to the communities we serve, delivering quality, affordable homes and driving the development of strong communities, where each person is empowered to develop to their potential, building capacity and resilience in their communities. Nurturing and developing social capital within social housing has never been so imperative in a society with increasing rates of child poverty, worklessness and social isolation. These issues are reflected in our neighbourhoods by a decrease in the wellbeing of tenants, and in our working lives by increasing anti-social behaviour and rent arrears. We need to shift our focus from firefighting to prevention, embedding positive strategies for tackling loneliness and isolation in our business plans.
The impact of connecting communities and keeping them in touch with each other can be profound, often opening up a wealth of new opportunities and connections. Poole Housing Partnership has been working with the local University to support older tenants to become ‘digitally savvy’ and we’re looking at how Wi-Fi can be expanded into communal areas and tower blocks to start levelling the digital gap.
Residents have set up a befriending service within our sheltered housing schemes, enabling them to reach out to each other, form new friendships, take up new hobbies online and build a caring community.
Happier, healthier tenants make for happier, healthier communities, lowering levels of ASB and less call on a range of agencies, including housing. Assisting in delivery of this also ensures staff come to work and see the difference they are making, therefore building happier, healthier organisations.
By making a strategic decision to tackle loneliness, we’re also committing to a set of values which will build capacity both within an organisation and throughout its neighbourhoods. The question then becomes not can you afford to do this, but can you afford not to?
