People in Affordable Housing

I cannot believe that I have just read a thread that meandered around the need for affordable housing, why should taxpayers pay for it and how lazy people (it’s their lifestyle choice) are in affordable housing. I thought such attitudes had died out with the meteorite that took out the dinosaurs. Sadly, it prevails today.

Other than for some investors, through logic, ALL housing needs to be affordable. It is the degree of affordability that has shifted as costs (through the myriad of reasons/causes) have escalated such that incomes cannot match housing costs, and supply has not kept up with need.

To characterise people living in social rent, or any other supported affordable model of housing, as other, or lazy, or any other derogatory definition, is showing a crass lack of knowledge … to put it as politely as I can. They are not people in need, they are people we need.

To put this into perspective, the crime rates (2032) in Kensington & Chelsea (one of the most expensive areas in London) is higher than it is in Tower Hamlets (one of the poorest).

The people who live on the Ocean Estate, one of the largest council estates in London, are not lazy good-for-nothings. They are nurses, doctors, architects, teachers, care workers, first responders, IT experts, lawyers, shop workers, electricians, plumbers and accountants – they perform the jobs that we all need to function as a society.

How do I know? I have lived on the Ocean Estate for over 20 years and my neighbours inspire me and fill me with pride to be a part of their community. They share a history that fought for people’s rights and equality. From women in the workplace, welcoming migrants, feeding London to seeing off the fascists on Cable Street. They/we are not other and we are not in need any more than any other community, London needs us. And the country needs us to mend the housing crisis for all.