Residential Policy: What Benefits Await Homeowners?
In a bid to address growing housing pressures and create safe, thriving environments, more councils are prioritizing the development of housing strategies. One such council, supported by consultants Campbell Tickell, is making strides in engaging residents, particularly underrepresented and vulnerable groups, in the strategy-making process.
Good quality housing is essential for a council to promote a safe and thriving environment for living, working, and playing. A housing strategy outlines how to build a positive future using the community's assets to attract investment and provide a quality environment.
Listening to opinions from Members, officers, stakeholders, and partners is crucial in creating a housing strategy. However, obtaining interest from residents, especially underrepresented and vulnerable groups, can be challenging. To overcome this, the council is employing a broad dialogue with residents, extending beyond the housing strategy to improve engagement in other areas.
Webinars are being used as an alternative method for interaction, as not everyone prefers face-to-face meetings. Surveys with QR codes are being advertised on social media, hoardings, bus stops, and flyers. Focus groups are being organized with various demographics, including young people, care leavers, those with lived experience, older people, people with physical disabilities or learning disabilities, LGBTQIA, and BAME communities.
Feedback to residents post-consultation is deemed crucial to build trust and encourage continued dialogue. Training local people to become community researchers for resident interactions is being considered. Attending existing communal events and meetings, instead of housing strategy-specific ones, is being pursued.
Effective methods for engaging underrepresented and vulnerable groups in housing strategies center on promoting equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive outreach, as well as empowering communities to participate actively in policy development and service design.
The council is applying an equity lens that is culturally and linguistically appropriate to reduce disparities, ensuring strategies address the specific needs of diverse populations such as immigrants, foster youth, older adults, and disabled individuals. They are also collaborating with community-based providers, advocates, policymakers, and consumers to co-create solutions and to build trust and responsiveness to the unique barriers facing underrepresented groups.
Innovative homeownership models, such as Community Land Trusts (CLTs), which offer non-profit ownership structures that increase affordability and security for underrepresented groups, are being considered. The council is also addressing intersecting needs by integrating affordable and inclusive housing with other support services, including comprehensive healthcare and economic security, especially for vulnerable populations like LGBTQIA+ older adults.
Maintaining organizational commitment through internal diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that empower employees and amplify the voices of underrepresented populations to better design and implement housing strategies is a key focus. Outreach and education efforts tailored to the populations served, reducing barriers to understanding and accessing programs, and promoting gradual transitions in public benefits to reduce sudden hardships, are also being implemented.
These methods reflect a holistic and participatory approach, balancing policy reforms, community empowerment, and innovative housing solutions to create equitable outcomes for vulnerable and underrepresented groups in housing strategies. In Stourport, over 100 new homes are being built in a second attempt, demonstrating the council's commitment to providing quality housing for all.
The TRUUD guidance for planning healthy places has been launched, providing further support for councils in creating housing strategies that promote health, wellbeing, and community engagement. With the prioritization of housing strategies and a focus on equitable and inclusive practices, councils can work towards building thriving communities for everyone.
- To create effective housing strategies that cater to all residents, particularly underrepresented and vulnerable groups, the council is promoting equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive outreach, empowering communities to participate actively in policy development and service design.
- Implementing innovative homeownership models, such as Community Land Trusts (CLTs), that offer affordable and secure housing options for underrepresented groups, is one of the strategies the council is considering to address growing housing pressures and provide a quality environment for the community.
