Call for research participants: are you waiting for social housing or have you recently moved into social housing in Scotland?

CALL FOR RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS

Are you waiting for social housing or have you recently moved into social housing in Scotland?

The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) and Wheatley Group have commissioned Altair Consultancy and Advisory Services Limited (Altair) to conduct research on the experiences of people waiting for social housing in Scotland.

The research will gather stories from some of the almost 250,000 people waiting for social homes, and from the housing association and local authority staff managing the allocation of social housing to those waiting.

What is involved in the research?

The research will run from April to September 2024. They are interviewing tenants who are waiting for social housing in Scotland and who have just moved to social housing. They would like to interview people:

• Who are waiting for a new social home, including existing social tenants looking to transfer.
• Who have moved to a new social home within the last six months or so (from Autumn 2023 to now), including existing social tenants who have transferred.
• This would involve a short interview by telephone (up to 45 minutes). They would like to interview people with a range of different reasons for wanting social housing from across the country.

They can offer a £15 Love2Shop gift voucher to thank you for taking the time to participate.

Importantly, being involved in the research will not affect your housing situation. You will not be able to find a home quicker or be penalised for taking part in the research. They will not share what you tell them with Forth Housing. You can find out more about taking part on Altair’s website.

Why are they doing this research?

Following the Scottish Government’s announcement of a 26% cut to its affordable housebuilding programme for 2024-25, it is important now more than ever that the stories of those affected by the country’s lack of social housing are heard.

Through the research, they want to understand the circumstances of those needing and waiting for social homes, and the pressures faced by staff when allocating them.

How will the research be used?

The findings of the research will be published later this year and will guide SFHA policy and campaigns, making change for people who need a decent, warm and affordable home.

They would be grateful to those waiting for social housing or who have just moved to social housing, whether a new or existing tenant, who feel they can share their experiences. During the interview, you can decide what you share and whether you want to participate in any further research, such as keeping a diary of your experiences or speaking to the media following launch of the research.

How can I find out more?

If you are on a housing list waiting for social housing in Scotland or have just moved into social housing in Scotland and are interested in taking part in the research, please contact Bekah Ryder, Research and Insights Manager at Altair on bekah.ryder@altairltd.co.uk or call on 07443 107596.