Yesterday, the Minister for Homelessness, Rushanara Ali resigned after media reports emerged that she evicted tenants from a property she owned and then sought to re-let the property with rents increased by £700 a month.
She stood accused of profiteering off the backs of tenants – the very thing the government has pledged to clamp down on.
Untenable
There is no accusation that the Minister did anything illegal but the speed of her resignation is a sign of how unacceptable her actions have been. Her decisions as a private landlord make it untenable for her to remain in a public post.
It’s an example that when it comes to leadership, the personal is political. Forget their rhetoric, personal decisions expose what leaders are really committed to.
Houses have increasingly become expensive commodities which enable those who own them to wield enormous economic power. Labour went into the election promising to strengthen the rights of private tenants. How can someone lead this drive when the laws they are currently taking through Parliament would stop what they have been accused of?
Personal cost
What makes this look even worse is the fact that addressing homelessness is not just a political task. It also involves countless charities, faith and community groups who voluntarily give time, energy and resources to help people affected. Often, this commitment comes at significant personal cost.
The charity I work for, Hope into Action, started when Ed and Rachel Walker received an inheritance and decided to use £30,000 of their own money to help buy a house in Peterborough for homeless men leaving prison. It became our first house.
Incredible fruit
Their actions was like a seed which has yielded incredible fruit. 15 years on, Hope into Action now has a network of 131 houses across the country from Southampton to Northumberland. Last year we housed almost 500 people who would otherwise be homeless.
And every house has been purchased through the personal decision of an investor to use their money to help others rather than maximise their personal income. Ed and Rachel’s original investment has inspired countless others: we have seen a thousand-fold increase in the years since and have now had over £3o million invested in our homes.
Friendship and community
And its not just economic capital that has been harnessed through our model but social capital too. Every one of our houses is partnered with a local church who offer friendship and community to our tenants which works alongside the professional support our staff provide.
This is why our model works, because homelessness is not just about material poverty but also due to a poverty of relationships and identity. Our mission is to empower our tenants to not only be housed, but also to build strong relationships and find real purpose and meaning in life.
Faith and leadership
In 2023, Ed Walker was awarded an MBE for his services to homelessness because of the impact of his work. The risk and commitment he took was both an expression of his deep Christian faith and an example of great leadership. He did not know where that first step would lead but had faith that he should use his money for the greater good.
This personal commitment has led to great public impact. It has not brought them personal riches but their example and vision has inspired many and changed the lives of countless others.
Brislington Community News 