Parliamentary inquiry into housing and employment – renewed calls for evidence
The All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Housing and Employment has renewed calls for housing providers and sector experts to contribute evidence about their residents’ employment chances in the light of Covid-19 and what works in improving these.
This Inquiry was set by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Housing and Social Mobility to examine the social housing earnings and employment gap, supported by Communities that Work and its partners. It runs until September and is calling for evidence from sector experts and social housing providers and residents.
Launched before the full onset of the coronavirus crisis, a review by Communities that Work and its research partner, the Centre for Collaborative Housing Evidence (CaCHE), confirmed that its central questions remain valid and relevant in this new context. With damage to the economy likely to exceed previous recessions, it’s vital to understand why social housing residents find it harder to get long-term, sustainable work and how housing providers address this.
In response to the changing context, the Inquiry has:
- extended its deadline for written evidence to 30 June
- moved planned regional oral evidence sessions online
- updated its question template and background research documents to reflect the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The evidence gathered will inform the solutions the Inquiry proposes in its final report which will be launched in Westminster in October 2020.
Lynsey Sweeney, Managing Director of Communities that Work, said: “The central questions of the Inquiry are as relevant during the pandemic as before. This Inquiry is one of the first in Parliament to respond to the joint issues facing social housing and employment as we emerge from this crisis. By sharing their expertise with this Inquiry, Communities that Work’s members will strengthen the role of housing providers in building an inclusive economic and social recovery from Covid-19.”
Communities that Work and its partners are calling for social landlords, residents and other organisations working in communities to contribute their expertise and knowledge to the Inquiry by the written submission deadline. Its findings will help shape new national policies as we emerge from Covid-19 and strengthen the critical role of UK housing providers in aiding job and community recovery.
- Please read the updated background research document and questionnaire template
- Email response (1- 6 sides of A4) to: information@
communitiesthatwork.co.uk - The deadline for written responses is 30 June 2020.
Please encourage colleagues to participate and join in the conversation on Twitter #APPG #HousingWork
For more information, visit here.
