Recent comments by Housing Minister, Caroline Flint, linking housing and employment prompted this article for the Housing Monthly Diary by Louise Meincke, Policy & Communications Officer at the Foyer Federation.
When the new Housing Minister, Caroline Flint, suggested in a speech to the Fabian Society on 5 February that she wanted to 'begin a debate' on how best to serve the needs of those living in social housing - the debate certainly began.
Caroline Flint suggested that social housing tenancy should be based around the principle of 'something for something', and that unemployed council tenants should sign 'commitment contracts' pledging to seek employment in order to continue receiving benefits. These new contracts would help the long-term unemployed back into work and break the cycle between unemployment and social housing.
Caroline Flint's announcements come on the basis of a report commissioned by her department last year, which showed that half of all households paid for by benefits were without work. Research also shows that the number of unemployed council tenants have risen by 20% to 55% since 1981.
In her speech to the Fabian Society, Caroline Flint mentioned Foyers as an example of the link between housing and employment, and later described the work of Foyers as 'inspiring' in an article in the New Statesman.
At the heart of the Foyer ethos is the idea of conditionality. Since 1992 the Foyer movement has been instrumental in developing this approach, based on a 'deal' between the young person and the Foyer. This formal commitment is usually expressed through a tenancy agreement. In other words, in exchange for services that are tailored to their needs, the young person agrees to actively work with the Foyer to build their capacity and move on in their lives.
It is a two way transaction, with 'rights and responsibilities' that go both ways. But unlike Caroline Flint's message, which was rooted in the language of 'sanctions' and 'punishment', the conditionality in Foyers offer a different 'something for something' and the quality of the support is just as important as the commitment the young person makes in the first place.
The Foyer Federation did not join the voices from those organisations which argued that what was being proposed would destroy families and communities. But we did believe that it was a missed opportunity when Caroline Flint focused on 'sanctions' rather than how we can work together to ensure that social housing creates the conditions in which individuals and families can flourish.
On the day of her reschuffle Caroline Flint met a group of young people from Foyers, which must have left her in little doubt that 'opening up job centres on estates' will not, by itself, do the trick.
Axiom Housing Association's Foyer Project in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire was short-listed for a design award. This is the first year that Fenland District Council have organised such Awards and they hope it will be the first of many!
The Awards intend to recognise the efforts made by owners, designers and builders to improve the standard of design and construction within the Fenland area. They are certificates of recognition which recognise design and quality of construction that have improve the site around them.
Axiom's Foyer has been shortlisted under the category of Heritage Award (New Build), Sustainability Award and Commercial Award (non domestic new build).
Fenland District Council's Director of Business and Infrastructure, once said of The Foyer:
"The Foyer is a very attractive and modern building that blends well into its environment and will serve young people very well.
"I am delighted we were able to play a key role in commissioning the feasbility study on the Foyer project and supported Axiom in attracting Housing Corporation funding as well as providing hard cash towards the building of the project".
The Foyer was conceived as a flagship for the multi-million pound Nene Waterfront Regeneration scheme, which is set to transform the economic fortunes of Wisbech and Fenland as a whole.