This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2018/jun/15/grenfell-tragedy-housing
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| All housing professionals want to ensure Grenfell never happens again | All housing professionals want to ensure Grenfell never happens again |
| (5 months later) | |
| There are some events so huge they have a profound impact on the nation. The fire at Grenfell Tower a year ago is one of those rare events. The scale of the tragedy was so vast, and the human pain we felt so raw and immediate, that we all, in our anger, knew things had to change. | There are some events so huge they have a profound impact on the nation. The fire at Grenfell Tower a year ago is one of those rare events. The scale of the tragedy was so vast, and the human pain we felt so raw and immediate, that we all, in our anger, knew things had to change. |
| If that was generally true, it was even more so for those of us who work in housing. If you lead an organisation that provides homes, your worst nightmare is that someone dies because of actions or decisions you have made, or failed to make. Grenfell was that nightmare at a level beyond imagination or comprehension. The sense that we had to make sure it never happened again remains real and profound. | If that was generally true, it was even more so for those of us who work in housing. If you lead an organisation that provides homes, your worst nightmare is that someone dies because of actions or decisions you have made, or failed to make. Grenfell was that nightmare at a level beyond imagination or comprehension. The sense that we had to make sure it never happened again remains real and profound. |
| Grenfell was that nightmare at a level beyond imagination or comprehension | Grenfell was that nightmare at a level beyond imagination or comprehension |
| Since the fire, the sector has been checking and re-examining how safe our buildings are. This was most urgent for those who own or manage high-rise buildings, but it was true for everyone. Many housing associations with two- or three-storey street properties have carried out new fire and safety risk assessments. Fire wardens have been deployed and updated information provided to residents. | Since the fire, the sector has been checking and re-examining how safe our buildings are. This was most urgent for those who own or manage high-rise buildings, but it was true for everyone. Many housing associations with two- or three-storey street properties have carried out new fire and safety risk assessments. Fire wardens have been deployed and updated information provided to residents. |
| At a national level, we have engaged with government, the Grenfell public inquiry and Dame Judith Hackitt’s review of building regulations and fire safety. Despite significant challenges and obstacles, remedial work has started on two thirds of social housing blocks with combustible cladding and work on the remainder is planned. | At a national level, we have engaged with government, the Grenfell public inquiry and Dame Judith Hackitt’s review of building regulations and fire safety. Despite significant challenges and obstacles, remedial work has started on two thirds of social housing blocks with combustible cladding and work on the remainder is planned. |
| Most importantly, though, we’ve learned this was a monumental system failure. The building control system failed. We’ve understood from the Hackitt report that the whole industry complied with a deeply flawed regulatory regime rather than taking ownership of being responsible for safety. | Most importantly, though, we’ve learned this was a monumental system failure. The building control system failed. We’ve understood from the Hackitt report that the whole industry complied with a deeply flawed regulatory regime rather than taking ownership of being responsible for safety. |
| This has to change, in the social sector and the private sector – indeed, anywhere that people sleep. At an even more fundamental level, we learned that there is, in many places, a crisis of trust. Too many people feel they can’t trust their landlord, local authority, buildings or their government. Too many people, in social and privately owned blocks, feel voiceless and ignored. | This has to change, in the social sector and the private sector – indeed, anywhere that people sleep. At an even more fundamental level, we learned that there is, in many places, a crisis of trust. Too many people feel they can’t trust their landlord, local authority, buildings or their government. Too many people, in social and privately owned blocks, feel voiceless and ignored. |
| Housing associations are determined to rebuild that trust and ensure communities not only feel they are listened to but are confident they can influence what happens to them. | Housing associations are determined to rebuild that trust and ensure communities not only feel they are listened to but are confident they can influence what happens to them. |
| We are committed to putting the people we serve at the heart of everything we do. We will launch a sector-wide commitment on openness and transparency and work with tenants to develop a trust charter. Our residents deserve to know exactly what level of service they can expect, how they can influence it and how they can hold us to account. | We are committed to putting the people we serve at the heart of everything we do. We will launch a sector-wide commitment on openness and transparency and work with tenants to develop a trust charter. Our residents deserve to know exactly what level of service they can expect, how they can influence it and how they can hold us to account. |
| There is little we can do to assuage the pain of those who lost loved ones and their homes in Grenfell. We can, though, do everything possible to ensure it will never happen again. That is the most fitting memorial we can build. | There is little we can do to assuage the pain of those who lost loved ones and their homes in Grenfell. We can, though, do everything possible to ensure it will never happen again. That is the most fitting memorial we can build. |
| David Orr is chief executive of the National Housing Federation | David Orr is chief executive of the National Housing Federation |
| Join the Housing Network to read more pieces like this, and follow us on Twitter (@guardianhousing) to keep up with the latest UK housing news and views | Join the Housing Network to read more pieces like this, and follow us on Twitter (@guardianhousing) to keep up with the latest UK housing news and views |
| Looking for a housing job, or need to recruit housing staff? Take a look atGuardian Jobs | Looking for a housing job, or need to recruit housing staff? Take a look atGuardian Jobs |
| Housing Network | Housing Network |
| Grenfell Tower fire | |
| Housing | Housing |
| Communities | Communities |
| Social housing | Social housing |
| comment | comment |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |