Fighting social housing stigma: meet Hayley

The saying – there’s no place like home – is powerful and rings true for us all.

It’s one that resonates particularly for Hayley, a Manchester based mum-of-two, for whom living and working in social housing is proving to be “the best of both worlds”.

Born in Berlin, Hayley and her family moved back to their hometown, Cheetham Hill, when she was five. Settling into life in the northern suburb, Hayley enjoyed her time at school and made friends for life.

But after growing up and having children of her own, shifting priorities fuelled her desire to move to Davyhulme, a peaceful village on the other side of Manchester.

Within a stone’s throw of The Trafford centre, the Urmston area is near to good schools and close relatives including Hayley’s sister.

A shortage of social housing left Hayley and her family privately renting for ten years whilst they waited for a home to become available.

After being evicted by their landlord, they were left homeless before securing a place with L&Q in their dream area.

“The area is gorgeous, quiet, and perfect for school and transport connections. My youngest daughter’s school is on the bottom of the road, Salford university where my oldest daughter studies isn’t far away, and the integrated tram route takes us all the way into central Manchester.

Finding a decent, affordable place to live has had a positive ripple effect on Hayley’s life.

With the peace of mind that comes from having a secure tenancy, she has been able to pursue her goal of finding a socially conscious career.

Shortly after moving in, Hayley received an email inviting applications for L&Q’s apprenticeship scheme.

To her surprise, she not only won a place on the scheme, but loved it, and was offered a full-time role after a year.

“After coming across L&Q’s apprenticeship scheme, I assumed I would be too old. In reality, apprenticeships are for all ages, and not just teenagers. I applied for the scheme, got accepted and haven’t looked back since.”

While Hayley’s story is about a talented individual reaching their potential, she is clear that the apprenticeship was a vital steppingstone to her success.

“This has been a positive gateway to learning something else and it has opened so many doors. I coped well with juggling work and study commitments thanks to the support I got from my manager. The experience has given me the confidence to continue with my education and I’ve since started a social work qualification.”

Hayley’s prime motivation is to make a difference to peoples’ lives. Her passion lies in helping others, whether that be in her day job providing help, support and reassurance to vulnerable residents, or through fostering local children.

“Working in housing is not just about bricks and mortar – it’s about making a positive difference to people’s lives, their communities, and their life chances by providing them with a decent home and environment in which to live.”

Living in social housing, Hayley is perfectly placed to help residents get the most out of their homes and communities.

“Being a resident has given me an advantage in this role. I’m able to relate to people’s worries and put myself in their shoes – it’s the best of both worlds. At the end of the day, the end result provides the best motivation. You see where your work starts and finishes and the difference it makes to people’s lives.”