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Blog series: coronavirus, housing and home

The advent of the coronavirus pandemic is having an unprecedented impact on society. It cuts across many dimensions of our daily lives, our sense of ontological security, uncertainty about the future and many material concerns as well. The virus and associated government responses have already had a considerable impact on the housing system. Almost overnight, the lockdown reduced the incomes of many and transformed how most of us relate to our homes. In all likelihood, the impacts will be longstanding and unevenly distributed both socially and geographically across the UK.

In this rapidly shifting environment, with so many factors  – public health, economic, political and social– in flux, it is difficult to accurately predict or fully understand the implications of the coronavirus pandemic for the housing system. The rigour to which most academics and researchers aspire may simply be unachievable. The paradox, however, is that it is in these times of radical uncertainty when expertise is arguably needed most.

Starting from 31 March, we therefore aim to curate and publish a series of outputs exploring the key issues raised by the pandemic (see full list below). In the first blogpost published today, Prof David Robinson considers whether the social and economic constraints imposed by the ‘lockdown’ might make us all feel a little more empathy for those older people (and other fellow citizens) for whom being confined at home alone is the norm.

Over the coming weeks, researchers –  from both inside and outside of CaCHE –  will explore a host of other issues relating to the pandemic: from the meaning of home as a place of ‘harm’ to best-practice around the protection of homeless people.  We will make use of a wide range of mediums, including blog, briefing papers, and webinars.

In these uncertain times, we hope CaCHE can provide a dynamic platform for researchers from across the housing system to help inform the responses of policymakers and practitioners. If you have any thoughts or ideas for blogs, webinars or any other contributions then please in the first instance contact our knowledge exchange associate, Dr Chris Foye, at chris.foye@glasgow.ac.uk.

 

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Date: March 31, 2020 8:00 am

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