Features & Opinions
Resident focus: Five questions boards should be asking to ensure residents’ voices are being heard
“Staff and board come and go, but I will be here until they carry me out”.
Carole – a wise woman, and housing association tenant – once said this to me. She felt strongly that her voice, and those of her neighbours should matter in making long-term decisions, as well as influencing more immediate changes to services. I have not heard the stewardship role of boards (or governing bodies) and executive teams expressed so clearly: the need to hear from, and have accountability to, current and future residents.
Changes to the regulation of English housing providers, along with a more active Housing Ombudsman and the very public scrutiny of housing standards in traditional and social media, have created an environment where hearing the voices of residents in the boardroom is critical. Doubtless many readers will be thinking that it’s about time to take this to the next stage.
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