Research shows most Londoners in housing association homes are in work

The majority of Londoners who live in housing association homes go out to work and make a real contribution to society, according to the first research findings from Real London Lives.
By: Real London Lives
 
 
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LONDON - Nov. 27, 2013 - PRLog -- The Real London Lives project is designed to give a voice to the ordinary Londoners who live in housing association homes.  It combines true stories with a new three-year research study by the Centre for Housing Policy at the University of York.

The project has been created by the g15, the group of London’s largest housing associations which represents one in ten Londoners.

According to the research, while the majority of these people are working, many of them still struggle to make ends meet.

The top-line research findings include:

·         The majority of Londoners of who live in housing association homes go out to work.  Just 21% are unemployed

·         Low incomes mean 60% of these households require housing benefit to pay all or part of the rent

·         25% of households find keeping up with bills a constant struggle.  This rises to 43% for those who have seen their housing benefit reduce since April 2013.

Brendan Sarsfield, Chair of the g15 group of London’s largest housing associations which set up Real London Lives said:

“We’ve started this project because there is so much debate in housing that’s not based in fact.

“We house one in ten Londoners.  Our residents - our customers - are bus drivers, they work in the NHS, they work for the local council.  They are just ordinary people trying to get on with their lives, look after their families and contribute to their communities.  We want to get their stories out there so that the future housing debate is informed by fact and not fiction.”

About the research

This is the first time such large-scale, independent research into the lives of people living in housing association homes has been undertaken.

The Centre for Housing Policy at the University of York has designed the research and is carrying it out. Today’s findings are based on their analysis of more than 1,640 in-depth interviews which represent the whole range of experiences of Londoners of working age who live in housing association homes.

This report is the start of a three-year study to track how these Londoners respond to the next few years of economic, welfare and public service change.

Dr Julie Rugg of the Centre for Housing Policy at the University of York, who is leading the research team, said:

“This research is a great opportunity to find out how people are really getting by in this period of austerity.  Being able to follow people over three years will give us a much better understanding of impact these changing times have on people’s lives than any single snapshot survey.”

You can keep up with information about the research on the website www.reallondonlives.co.uk.

Call to join Real London Lives

Everyone is invited to join the conversation by using the hash-tag #RealLondonLives

The Real London Lives project is also calling on people to tell their own stories.

If you are a Londoner living in a housing association home go directly to the Real London Lives website on www.reallondonlives.co.uk to make your voice heard.

Some people have already talked to the project about their hopes for the future and recent challenges they have faced.

Short films of these true stories can be seen on the Real London Lives website www.reallondonlives.co.uk .

Brendan Sarsfield, Chair of the g15 group of housing associations, adds:

“We would love our residents to go to the website, sign up and tell us their stories.”

“We want residents to get involved because the more people whose voices are heard the stronger the argument, the clearer the case, and the more they are getting their point across and not our point or some point made by a politician.”

-       Ends     -

NOTES FOR EDITORS


·         The g15 is the group of London’s 15 largest housing associations. It represents one in ten Londoners, and builds more than 10,000 new homes a year.

·         The Centre for Housing Policy at the University of York analysed 1,648 in-depth telephone interviews from a randomised sample of people of working age living in homes managed by the g15 group of London’s 15 largest housing associations for the initial findings of this research.

·         True stories from g15 residents are captured on film, and available on the Real London Lives website www.reallondonlives.co.uk,

·         The project invites Londoners who live in affordable homes to tell their own stories through the Real London Lives website www.reallondonlives.co.uk.

·         Everyone is invited to join the conversation via #RealLondonLives

Further information and Press Contact

If you would like further information about the project, please visit our website, www.reallondonlives.co.uk. If you are a journalist with a press query, please contact RealLondonLives@gmail.com

Alternative press contact: Toni O’Sullivan 01252 899 950 / tosullivan@theblueballroom.com

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Source:Real London Lives
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Tags:Housing, Housing Association, London, Residents, G15
Industry:Family, Government
Location:London City - London, Greater - England
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