Taking the Stigma out of Social Housing: The Residents View
New research from the G15 has highlighted the extent to which social housing residents continue to face discrimination and stigma because of where they live.
The findings of the “Taking the Stigma out of Social Housing: The Residents View” report are based on a first-of-its-kind survey of 3,000 social housing residents in London, conducted by the G15. The report is sponsored by the G15 Residents’ Group - a forum of involved residents, set up to deliver resident-led change within the housing sector.
Daisy Armstrong, Chair for the G15 Residents’ Group said, “Social housing is a lifeline for so many people, but stigma continues to hold us back. It’s time we focused on the reality: we are proud of our homes, proud of our communities, and proud of the contributions we make to society.”
The research finds that half of London’s social housing residents surveyed (45%) have experienced prejudice or discrimination because of their housing status, while over a third (35%) described feelings of embarrassment.
Residents who reported experiencing stigma highlighted several key areas where it has impacted their lives. The most common source of stigma was interactions with landlords, cited by 43% of respondents. Other significant areas included interactions with customer service agents, such as banks and mobile phone companies (24%), and dealings with official authorities, such as the police (24%). Stigma also extended into professional and personal spheres, with 18% reporting a negative impact on their employment or career opportunities and 14% feeling it affected their dating lives. These findings underline how deeply stigma infiltrates everyday interactions, further marginalising social housing residents in both public and private aspects of their lives.
In the survey, residents highlighted media portrayals of social housing and residents as the most significant driver of negative perceptions. Sensationalist reporting and programmes such as Benefits Street were repeatedly identified as having shaped misleading stereotypes, unfairly portraying social housing residents as criminals, unemployed, or reliant on welfare. One resident explained, “The media has a huge role in shaping people’s views. Programmes like ‘Benefits Street’ made us feel judged and embarrassed. It’s not the reality of who we are.”
Language used by politicians when talking about social housing and residents, and government housing policy, ranked second and third, respectively in terms of causes. Social media also emerged as a key driver, ranking fourth, with its discussions and portrayals seen as perpetuating negative stereotypes.
While the Grenfell tragedy in 2017 sparked a national conversation about the treatment and perception of social housing residents, meaningful action to address stigma has been limited, leaving many feeling overlooked and undervalued by policymakers.
Fiona Fletcher-Smith, Chair of the G15 and CEO of L&Q Housing, urged policymakers, media, and society as a whole to take action. She said: “This report should be a wake-up call to society and policymakers. Social housing residents are the beating heart of London—not only as essential workers but as neighbours, carers, young professionals, families, and active members of their communities.
“We must challenge negative stereotypes, confront damaging rhetoric, and ensure that our residents are treated with respect and dignity.”
New research by the G15 - Taking the Stigma out of Social Housing: The Residents View
New research from the G15 has highlighted the extent to which social housing residents continue to face stigma because of where they live... View all