The Stigma with Stop Social Housing Stigma
There’s been a wave of publicity recently around the Stop Social Housing Stigma campaign — a movement said to have been born in the aftermath of Grenfell. And yes, it’s on record: residents were dismissed, labelled as troublemakers, and ignored when they raised concerns that, in hindsight, were deadly serious.
There absolutely is a stigma attached to social housing, and it does need tackling. But if we’re going to address it, we need to do it properly — not through feel-good optics.
The Impact of using Communication Plans to Silence Residents
Communication is a critical component of any healthy relationship, and this is especially true in the context of housing, where residents rely on effective communication with their providers to ensure a safe, comfortable, and secure living environment. Communication plans are often developed by housing providers to outline the strategies, goals, and objectives for effective communication with residents.
Unfortunately, some housing providers have been accused of using communication plans to limit or even silence resident voices. When communication plans are used as a tool to suppress resident feedback and limit communication channels, the impact on residents can be severe. Silencing residents can create a lack of trust, a sense of helplessness, and can result in serious health and safety risks.