Achieving housing excellence
Why investing in training for the next generation of housing professionals is key to the long-term success of the sector
PEOPLE & CULTURE
Image: Istock
Carol McTaggart
Chair, Chartered Institute of Housing Northern Ireland
Issue 68 | October 2023
Housing excellence in Northern Ireland is about more than just providing homes. It's about a commitment to advocating for people in housing need, to ensuring an adequate supply of high-quality homes, and to delivering services that support people to live well.
It’s also about investing in the future of our housing profession through education and training, equipping future housing leaders with the skills and confidence needed to overcome the challenges and to make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead. This ensures that ours is an adaptable and resilient sector.
As we navigate the evolving housing landscape, the dedication of housing professionals and organisations like CIH Northern Ireland will be instrumental in shaping a brighter, more equitable future for all. The commitment and collective efforts of the housing community are among the pillars on which a more positive future will be built.
“The waiting list for social homes now stands at circa 45,000 households – the highest it has been in a decade.”
Pressure on housing
Northern Ireland finds itself at a crossroads, grappling with multifaceted pressures on our housing supply and services. The waiting list for social homes now stands at circa 45,000 households – the highest it has been in a decade. This demand is fuelled by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and a 15-year high in interest rates.
At the same time, the public budget to build new social homes has been cut and around 25 per cent fewer social home starts are expected for Northern Ireland compared with last year. Additionally, deep-rooted barriers to housebuilding remain – infrastructure, skills and capacity constraints – storing up problems for the future.
Housing professionals crucial
In a time of economic hardship, soaring cost of living and a relentless housing shortage, the role of housing professionals has never been more crucial. We have a responsibility to address the housing needs of Northern Ireland’s most vulnerable families and individuals.
We must find ways to increase social housebuilding to meet the aspirations of the Housing Supply Strategy, which proposes targets well above recent performance. This strategy, still in draft due to the collapse of the Northern Ireland Executive, must be backed by any future government and fully resourced and funded to address the wide-ranging constraints within our industry. It also needs to tackle the deepening climate crisis, which requires urgent energy efficiency improvements to existing homes and higher energy standards for new builds.
Advocating for change
Key to housing excellence is an unwavering commitment to advocate for the protection and allocation of public resources. Housing professionals must raise their collective voice and collaborate with other organisations to demand a return of the Northern Ireland Executive and to influence policymakers. By working together, we can ensure that funding is targeted at initiatives aimed at enabling everyone to have a quality home and the services they need to live well.
Investing in professionalism
To ensure the long-term success and resilience of the housing sector, investing in skills development and nurturing the next generation of housing professionals is paramount. The new apprenticeship programme and housing degree – developed by the CIH in partnership with the education and housing sectors in Northern Ireland – offers a beacon of hope and an opportunity for aspiring housing professionals.
To fully harness its potential, ongoing support and recognition of these programmes and their value are essential. Government bodies, housing associations and private sector organisations must engage with and utilise them as an integral part of the housing sector’s fabric.
A skilled and diverse workforce is vital for tackling the complex housing issues that Northern Ireland faces. By investing in education, we invest in the future of our sector.
“To ensure the long-term success and resilience of the housing sector, investing in skills development and nurturing the next generation of housing professionals is paramount.”
