How Housing Officers support tenants affected by trauma
First published on 27 October 2020
- Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Place
Representatives from across Scotland’s housing sector will join a virtual webinar, hosted by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA), on the impact of childhood adverse experiences (ACEs) and trauma within the housing sector on 28th October. This follows the publication of three case studies which detail how local organisations integrated trauma informed practice to help their tenants maintain their tenancy whilst improving their overall health and wellbeing. In 2018, four national events took place followed by the publication of Understanding adverse childhood experiences and trauma: What does this mean for the housing sector? (external website). Feedback from the housing sector called for ‘real-life examples of trauma informed practice’, and this request has now been met in the form of the three case studies from South Ayrshire Council, Homes for Good and Linstone Housing.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, social housing providers have had to rapidly innovate and adapt their working practices to meet tenants’ needs. Building on this work, we are hoping to publish more case studies demonstrating examples of trauma informed practice in the housing sector.
Matt Lowther, Head of Service (Health Equity), Public Health Scotland said:
"Housing staff are on the front line working with people who experience complex issues such as low income, debt, poor mental health or substance use. COVID-19 has hit our most vulnerable people hardest of all. Frequently, it is housing officers who help them to engage with services. This means that every day, housing staff are supporting vulnerable people and families to sustain their tenancies and improve outcomes.
"We know that that good quality, warm energy efficient affordable housing may help to improve people’s physical and mental health and wellbeing and will continue to work with social housing providers to improve health in communities across the country."
View the housing case studies (external website)