Making ends meet for social housing tenants in the East Midlands

This research, funded by Futures Housing Group, was designed to enhance understanding of issues around affordability for social housing tenants, in relation both to housing and other areas of household budgets, in Amber Valley and Northamptonshire. It explored with residents the challenges they face in managing on a budget and meeting their needs on a day-to-day basis, as well as what could help to support them.

The research included a review of existing literature and best practice relating to the provision of support and advice for residents, and analysis of administrative and other data. The central part of the research involved a series of interviews and focus groups with housing association residents and staff. These explored practical and financial issues affecting household budgets, what can help or make it more difficult to make ends meet, views about services and support available and what could make a difference. A range of suggestions were developed and reviewed by residents to provide ideas about ways in which housing providers or other organisations could more effectively support residents and potentially help budgets go further.

Publication

Hill, K., Padley, M. and Stone, J. (2020) Exploring affordability: what can housing associations do to better support their tenants? 含羞草视频, Centre for Research in Social Policy.

Exploring affordability Findings