‘Lazy stereotypes’ depicting social housing tenants as shirkers are detached from reality and two-thirds of those who can work are in employment, according to a new report.
According to LG News:
A study of tenants in London by the University of York also found being a migrant or single parent does not help you jump the queue for housing.
The G15 group of the capital’s largest housing associations, which commissioned the report, said it dispelled the myth that tenants ‘are characterised by high levels of benefit dependency, lone parenthood, long-term unemployment, limited aspiration, or that people’s access to social housing has been easy’.
However, despite most being in part or full time jobs, three quarters were ‘faring no better than “holding steady” financially’, the research found, due to pay levels and hours. It is the latest report from Real London Lives, a three-year study involving 1,648 working age social housing tenants.
Mark Rogers, chief executive of Circle Housing and deputy chair of the g15, said: ‘The lazy stereotypes about social housing residents are simply wrong. There are people in professional careers, people working part time, people on zero hours contracts, some holding down two jobs, others in training, and some with no real prospect of employment due to physical or mental health problems.
‘This research shows there are no easy answers for policy makers. Social housing residents are not “shirkers”, but a diverse, complex mix of ordinary households trying to get by and thrive in the best way they can. Together, we must use this evidence to make informed policy decisions and have a collective responsibility to ensure that the voices of this diverse community of Londoners are heard.’