Housing Sector Podcast Episode #8: The Human Cost

The Housing Sector Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Clair Southgate, a dedicated volunteer vicar and teaching assistant, who faces the heartbreaking reality of being forced to leave her home of over 20 years. Clair shares her story of receiving a sudden letter from GreenSquareAccord, informing her that her home would be sold, without any further communication for five agonising weeks.

Despite promises from GreenSquareAccord to provide the statutory relocation grant, Clair's home, reportedly in better condition than others in the area, is inexplicably targeted for sale. GreenSquareAccord's inability to explain why Clair’s home must be sold, while damp homes in the village remain untouched, raises serious questions about their decision-making process. Their uncertain hopes of finding another resident willing to move to allow Clair to stay within her parish only add to the community's distress.

This episode delves deep into the mental health impact of this uncertainty on Clair and her community. We explore whether GreenSquareAccord is stigmatising residents of social housing and discuss the broader implications of their actions. Clair's home, which is economical to heat, is deemed otherwise by GreenSquareAccord, further complicating the situation.

We highlight a crucial message to Ruth Cooke, CEO of GreenSquareAccord: start treating people as people. The podcast raises poignant questions about whether tenants should be given the first right to buy and emphasises the human cost of these housing decisions.

We also address the broader housing sector, emphasising that other housing providers facing similar decisions must learn from this situation. It's imperative that they adopt better practices to support their tenants, ensuring transparency, communication, and empathy in their processes. The learnings from Clair’s experience are crucial for fostering trust and stability within communities.

Join us as we uncover the human stories behind housing policies and advocate for a more compassionate approach. This is the human cost. Is there anything anyone can do? Listen in to find out.

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