Introduction: Why should we care about the Housing Crisis?
For one simple reason – it’s about people, not houses. Behind millions of doors are families struggling to keep a roof over their heads....
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A Window into Britain's Housing Crisis
A multimedia journalism project exploring the lives of those struggling due to unaffordable housing.
December 22, 2016
I'm a journalism student at Bournemouth University and this blog follows my final major project. I have chosen to base it on Britain's housing crisis as it is an issue impacting millions of lives each day and I intend on investigating exactly why this is, what is being done and what it is like to be a victim of the crisis.
Listen to the documentary
Welcome to A Window into Britain's Housing Crisis, a Radio 4 targeted 7-minute documentary. I have been working with a number of inspiring and insightful people to create this documentary and blog, which marks the end of my 3 years of study at Bournemouth University. Housing is a critical issue for the nation and it is important to understand its depth. A huge thank you to all that contributed to this project.
Produced, written, edited and presented by Tijen Butler
January 9, 2017
Public opinion
Watch the video to find out what some members of the public think about Britain's housing shortage.
The nation's issue has caused people to relocate, struggle with rent, and consider living in hostels.
January 8, 2017
Survey Results
People aged between 20 and 60 gave their answers to the website's survey regarding the housing crisis.
It highlights their living situations and their opinions about what age they, or most people, will become homeowners.
Many people see the issue of housing relating to the increasing amount of homeless people in the country.
Watch the video to find out the survey's findings so far...
January 8, 2017
Meet the interviewees
Meet interviewee Koray Osman.
Following the photos he sent me from his mobile, which you can view further down the blog, I went to his council flat home in Finsbury Park, London where the 38-year-old has lived with his grandmother and father for well over a decade. He has not worked for over a year due to his health, and his living conditions have made him extremely unhappy. His elder and sick grandmother is making his life difficult, with her paranoia making her call the police on him several times, and creating “unliveable” and “dirty” living conditions, but he has to live with her as his only other option would be homelessness. He said that even when he was working, he could not afford to move out, and when his grandmother passes, he doesn’t know what will become of him as she has refused to put his name on the lease.
Meet interviewee Reuben Young.
I spoke to Reuben from the studio about affordable home ownership as he has a great insight into the matter as the Policy & Communications Officer at PricedOut which is an ongoing campaign. It is for first-time buyers in the UK. They are the only group campaigning for the government to freeze house prices, so they will stop rising quicker than wages, thus making more people become home owners. He campaigns with them, specifically dealing with public policy in housing with a London focus. As well as this, he is researching for a housing association. He told me about what the government are doing for Britain's housing crisis, and explained what is being done to help people in a crisis. Below, you can listen to what beneficial announcements the government have recently made.
Meet interviewee Lucy Russell.
Lucy is a volunteer researcher at Generation Rent, which campaigns for renter's rights, where she has been working on the lettingfees.co.uk website, and she works in Housing Benefits at the Bournemouth Council, where she speaks to customers who are facing issues with rent. She told me about her work there, as well as her own experiences with Britain’s housing crisis. She is 36 and married with two children, yet the couple have no way of saving for a deposit to buy and they have also had bad experiences with renting.
December 10, 2016
Telephone interview clip
Chris Goldsmith works with a housing support charity in East London. We spoke on the phone about the key facts surrounding the issue and the housing cases he has witnessed.
Listen to the stories of a man with cancer, living with his wife and children, struggling to keep a roof over their head, and a gay man homed in a house share after being hospitalised. He was then abused for his sexuality by another tenant.
January 9, 2017
Progression #2
The second update about the radio documentary process
The project’s Twitter and Facebook continue to be updated, interviews are being edited and my script is coming together. Each day I check the news for updates on the housing crisis, and any new or important information goes into the blog’s fact menu. Unfortunately, due to a faulty microphone, my last interview had to be repeated. An email of apology had been sent, with a request for another interview date, and the interviewee, Lucy Russell, kindly agreed and we met in the studio. Mishaps can happen during projects, but it’s important to move on and continue. SiSo, which supplied the microphone, has been informed so no one else can experience the same problem.
December 10, 2016
Inside One of the Homes
Interviewee Koray Osman says that he will clean, organise and bleach the home but his grandmother will then "mess up the place". He will be the first interviewee on the radio documentary, revealing his difficult lifestyle which is a result of Britain’s housing crisis. He cannot afford to move out. He took these images on his phone to show the living conditions he is being forced to live in. He sent them to me so I could see how he lives before the interview.
October 15, 2016
Public Voices
"How the hell can people afford them?"
Adam Giles, 32, estate agent from Southampton: “It’s funny because I spend every day trying to sell houses but afterwards I just wonder... how the hell can people afford them? I just turned 32 and I moved back in with my mum and dad. Unless you’re in a couple, it’s basically impossible to buy anywhere half decent. And renting is dead money unless you have no other choice.”
Eva Rodriguez, 27, teacher from Poole: “I’ve rented for years now. My flat is nice but of course it’s not really my own home. I haven’t thought about buying yet because it’s not really an option. I don’t want to get tied into a mortgage. The housing market looks so unclear with Brexit.”
Carl Banks, 62, retired engineer from London: “My wife and I own our place, and have lived in the same home for over thirty years. Doubt we could afford to buy our own home if it was on the market now; lucky we were young when we were. It’s a beautiful house. One of my grown kids still lives with us though so I guess that shows that there’s a problem, definitely.”
Jennifer Booth, 22, student from Bournemouth: “I will graduate soon and move back in with my parents probably. I don’t know how long I’ll end up there. To be honest, I’ll probably travel and settle somewhere else. England’s too expensive and cold anyway.”
Graham Nought, 37, waiter from London: “I own a place with my wife. It was difficult saving up for a deposit, and it’s even more difficult keeping up with the mortgage. We’re renting out the second bedroom but if we eventually have kids – Oh I don’t know. We’re lucky to have a place though. I think pretty much everyone struggles these days.”
As my radio interview dates are approaching, I have taken to the internet to do some research. However, today I thought it would be interesting to hear the thoughts and experiences of everyday people on the streets. I went to Bournemouth town centre with a notepad and pen to find out exactly what people have to say about the housing crisis. The end result seemed to show that nearly everyone was facing their own type of crisis. This is what some people have to say (the people who didn’t run away and avoid eye contact!).
November 26, 2016
Progression #1
An update about the radio documentary process so far
Social media continues to reach viewers, and I have confirmed dates for all of my interviewees. I have emailed and called many people in regards to the housing crisis, and many people have been willing to help – offering information. Some people have overlapping stories and roles, so it is important to make sure interviews aren’t repetitive, and one must be selective when a documentary is only seven minutes long. Some interviews will feature on this blog rather than the final documentary, so be sure to keep checking in.
October 27, 2016
Project Pitch
I researched online statistics regarding the housing crisis as well as what the government is doing about the issue (this information can be seen on the FACTS menu). I decided the project would be a stand-alone feature for Radio 4 which would allow the issue to be studied on a critical level - while showing the social aspect to the issue. It aims to make a difference as more people will become aware of the extent of the issue. The pitch and project idea was greeted with enthusiasm. We also discussed how the radio piece will have 'colour' and that will be done through wildtrack, which means natural sounds, as I enter the first home (such as knocking on the door) and as I explore how people are having to live.
October 23, 2016
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