Several agencies, including the National Housing Federation and the National Federation of ALMOs, have joined forces to create a new taskforce that brings together the housing and employment sectors to ensure these areas and the people they serve are best supported during and after the coronavirus crisis.
The taskforce, which will also include a number of employment organisations, will look at how employment-related solutions could help social housing tenants affected by the pandemic.
The group also includes the Institute of Employability Professionals and the Centre of Excellence in Community Investment, and will be chaired by Lynsey Sweeney, managing director of Communities That Work.
Lord Kerslake, chair of Peabody, will also be part of the taskforce, which aims to work with and consult the government on issues arising around employment and social housing as well as advise on where support should be given.
Ms Sweeney said: “We know that so many social housing residents were already feeling the economic pressure before COVID-19 entered our lives.
“This new reality risks providing an even more challenging backdrop to some of the UK’s most vulnerable communities.”
“This new taskforce brings together the housing and employment sectors to work with government and policymakers, ensuring that the right support is provided to those in need during this national emergency.”
The full list of taskforce members:
- Lord Kerslake, House of Lords
- Communities that Work
- BECG
- National Housing Federation
- National Federation of ALMOs
- Centre for Excellence in Community Investment
- Learning and Work Institute
- Employment Related Services Association
- Institute of Employability Professional
Lord Kerslake said: “It is vital that social housing tenants are not left behind in the UK’s fight against the virus, and that when the UK emerges from COVID-19, we all emerge together.
“This taskforce will play a critical role in ensuring that social housing landlords, ALMOs, government and policymakers have ‘one mind, one voice’ in the response to COVID-19.”