Are housing associations straying too far from their historical mission of providing decent, affordable homes? What are the lessons for politicians and providers in the aftermath of the Grenfell fire? Amid an ever-deepening housing crisis, and two years after a tragedy that brought social housing under a sudden and unforgiving spotlight, there are plenty of big questions for the sector. But there are wider issues to consider too, according to those who know it best.

One key message coming from those who live in, work in, study or want to change social housing is that it’s about much more than just buildings. From programmes to help tenants find work, to opportunities to get involved with the creative arts, providers can help residents fulfil their potential and live happier, more settled lives. Recent research by the University of Salford’s sustainable housing and urban studies unit found that housing associations could support a tenant into employment for as little as £25 to £30 a year, and that many tenants thought housing associations were better placed to do this than other organisations, because of the relationships they already had.

Our interviewees also noted challenges relating to the UK’s ageing population and increasing rates of disability. Earlier this year, a report from Habinteg highlighted that there are 13.9 million disabled people in the UK, with an estimated 1.2 million wheelchair users, yet only 7% of housing stock in England has even basic accessibility features. With 28% of the population set to be 65 and over by 2036, new homes are crucial to avoid more older and disabled people going into residential care.

There was much to celebrate, too, with praise for housing association staff making the effort to get to know residents and for work to ensure LGBT tenants don’t feel ignored or isolated. And there was news of activists joining forces with architects to reimagine affordable homes.

‘If residents are to be active citizens, they need to feel they mean something to their housing provider’

Darwin Bernardo

Founder, Nutmeg Community, north London

We work with Barnet council and Barnet Homes to help young people living in social housing, through things like sports programmes and entrepreneurship training. We’ve even had sports day races between tenants and housing staff. Housing associations need to become more engaged with their residents, from the chief executives – who need to be going out on to the estates – all the way down. They need to do more than just collect rent and only talk to parents when their kids are in trouble. If residents are going to be active citizens, they need to feel they mean something to their housing provider.

‘We’ve heard words from ministers, but what we haven’t seen is action, backed by money’

Clive Betts MP

Chair of the Commons housing select committee

After Grenfell, the most important lesson is that we can no longer treat social housing as poor housing for poor people. That’s where we’d got to: it was welfare housing, and people who ended up in it were seen as inadequate, and therefore not deserving of very much. And because people in social housing were poor and struggling, they found it hard to articulate their concerns, so they were completely ignored. Since then we’ve heard words from ministers, but what we haven’t seen is action, backed by money, to improve existing housing and make more available.

‘Some of the large housing associations have acknowledged they must go back to their social purpose’

Tom Murtha

Former housing association chief executive and founding member of Social Housing Under Threat

There’s been a feeling that maybe housing associations have lost their way – that they’ve grown too big, or too commercial. Some are now changing. Some of the large ones have said very clearly that they need to go back to their social purpose. Some associations have recognised that, yes, they’ve been developing new homes that, if they can afford it, some people find wonderful to live in, but that they also need to invest in their existing stock. Some are a lot slower to recognise the need to change, and I think that tension and separation is going to grow.

‘For many disabled people, feeling you can do normal things at home also enables you to work’

Delores Taylor

Habinteg tenant, Surrey

Habinteg’s recent report [pdf] on the impending accessible homes crisis really saddened me. Living in an inaccessible property impacted my health and my ability to look after my children, who were considered young carers. Now I’m in an accessible home, I can care for myself, which is wonderful for my children – they get to have a childhood. For many disabled people, feeling you can do normal things at home also enables you to work and contribute to society. Just building more homes isn’t enough: the lack of accessible homes must be addressed.

‘Helping people into employment isn’t just a cutesy, nice-to-have extra’

Lynsey Sweeney

Managing director, Communities That Work

Social housing is not just bricks and mortar. As a membership body for providers who want to support their tenants into good quality work, we believe you’ve got to look at the impact of poverty on your community and do something about it. People living in social housing face a greater challenge to get into work, and when they do, they’re likely to earn less. But helping people into employment isn’t just a cutesy, nice-to-have extra, or part of a board’s mission statement; research we commissioned shows there’s a bottom-line business case to support your tenants to support their own tenancies.

‘People are calling out for an alternative to the ideology driving Brexit’

Harris Beider

Professor of communities and public policy, Birmingham City University

I think social housing has lost its way: it’s going towards a philosophy where the bottom line is everything. People are calling out for an alternative to the ideology driving Brexit and it’s beholden on social housing providers to articulate what it is that they’re about, and how they can reach out to people who are disadvantaged, or poor, or black, or refugees, and say “we are trying to be a driver for diverse communities, because it’s part of our ethos and values”. I don’t see that in a uniform way within housing organisations. I want to see a more progressive voice.

‘The shortage of single-person dwellings is a big problem’

Anna Lecky

Environmental activist working to build a tiny house community in Belfast

Over the course of 11 months last year, 148 people who were homeless in Northern Ireland died while waiting for social housing. There’s a massive need for housing, but the shortage of single-person dwellings is a big problem. Tiny houses – sustainably built homes measuring approximately 35 sq metres, rented at low cost, like those designed here by the Holding Project – could be a solution. Other residents might be trying to get on the property ladder or have children who’ve left home. We want to prove there is a demand for change, for the chance to live small and live differently.

‘The first time they gave me a colour it was like they gave me magic’

Nazzi Raha

Artist, north-west London

I worked as a phlebotomist in the UK for many years, but became homeless in 2016. After a year in a hostel with no support, I moved to One Housing’s Arlington hostel in Camden and joined the art programme. It just opened the door for me: the first time they gave me a colour it was like they gave me magic. Art makes me calm, and it built up my confidence – I just forget every pain in my life. I live independently now but still use the studio and workshops at Arlington. It’s so important these kinds of things are provided.

‘For every £1 invested in careful renewal, about £12 of social value is generated’

Anne Power

Professor of social policy, London School of Economics

We’re losing a lot of social housing because of demolition and rebuilding. But there are a few cases where a housing association has taken control and replaced blocks one by one, allowing tenants to move across without breaking up communities. This requires careful, on-site housing management. Computer-based systems have their place, but they cannot run community services, or keep the grounds clean and safe. You need people on the ground and hands-on management. It means you can keep arrears in check, you can support people into work, you can help vulnerable people. Our research has shown that for every £1 invested in that kind of renewal, about £12 of social value is generated by reinforcing social links, maintaining neighbourhood conditions, and support community infrastructure.

‘Some elderly LGBT tenants are going back in the closet because other residents don’t accept them’

Luchia Fitzgerald

LGBT rights activist and resident, Irwell Valley Homes, Greater Manchester

Housing associations need to be ready for an increase in the number of elderly LGBT tenants. Some are moving into accommodation and having to go back in the closet at the end of their lives because other residents don’t accept them. That’s absolutely heartbreaking. They also need to think about younger LGBT people – there’s a serious problem with them becoming homeless and invisible. At Irwell Valley we’re trying to create safe spaces for both groups, and we’re training people up to spot the depression and isolation they can suffer. But a lot of housing associations really need to step up and recognise these issues.