October Daze - #HousingDay – 10th Oct 2018

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @HousingITguy
or LinkedIn here https://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy


As readers of this blog or followers perhaps on Twitter will know, I have been involved in previous years, taking part in hashtag #HousingDay. This year it will be Wednesday 10th October 2018.

I have worked within the Social Housing sector for over 20 years, even grew up in ‘Council Housing’, so I have an acute understanding of how low cost housing can change peoples lives. I believe wholeheartedly that it’s a definite ‘lift up’, not a hand-out. Lack of truly affordable housing (not ‘A’ffordable, which is 80% of a market rent, and pretty much out of reach for so many, particularly in many of our cities), is a massive issue.

The sector does much good, on so many levels. Like in any sector, sometimes it gets things wrong and I am of the view that a lot of what I can do, to help organisations with systems & processes, we can position and get in the right tools to enable continuous improvements, to take place. Many random tenants across the UK have contacted me for advice or guidance what to ask landlords for, or how to make their voice heard.

#HousingDay is one opportunity for those residents and all the organisations providing #socialhousing to make their voice heard.

In recent years, #Housingday has been organised by Ade Capon, who has done an excellent job. Ade has now left the sector, but this year passed the baton to Leslie Channon (who has been involved as tenant and now joined the sector with HACT). Together with journo Jon Land (many will recognise from 24dash / 24housing), I was pleased they asked me to help with blog set up and generally spreading the word.

We now have an emerging blog at https://housingday2018.wordpress.com/ where we will be featuring articles from the sector, as well as insights from residents, which I think is one of the most important elements. Without tenants and their experiences, we would not have a sector, more importantly, organisations would not have the feedback to improve, which is so vital.

Please look out for the #HousingDay hashtag and think what you will do to shout far and wide about Social Housing, what we do, how it feels to experience it and why we need much more of it, to provide enough housing of all tenures across England, Wales & Ireland.

Feel free to contact me, Leslie or Jon, with news, blogs and other material, we can add to the wordpress site, Twitter or other social media.   

If you are a housing organisation struggling with poor systems for delivering excellent customer service, feel free to get in touch too!


Related Post: When choosing applications software, why you should always look beyond the badge... 

Catch the blog monthly archive at https://soundcloud.com/housingitguy/

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

I would be pleased to connect with you on LinkedIn - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy Message me with any issues or queries, you would like to be explored in this blog. We generally receive a couple of suggestions each month.

Nitin Sawhney – October Daze.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009


Access a quick list of our Social Housing ICT blog posts here

Could we help you or your organisation? Our contact details are here , get in touch we will be pleased to chat about your problems and help with your organisation issues.
File Under: 360,1stTouch,4Js. , 07854655009 ,365Agile," """" ",,#UKHousing,#HousingDAY, #HomesForBritain,#InternetOfTenants, #Shout,1st Touch,3squared,Accuserv,Acutence,Aareon,Academy,ActiveH,AirWatch,Alignment,ALMO,Anite,Apex,ArchHouse,Archouse,asbestos, Asprey e-state pro,ActiveHousing,Asset Management,Aurora,Average IT Costs,App,Associates,ACL,Abritas,AMS,AX,aspireview,Agile365, BO,BPR,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Planning, Business Process Review,Business social networking, Blockwise, Block wise,BI,BancTec,BluTek,Bluebox, Castle,CBL,Cedar Open Accounts,Cx,Change,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, CHR,Citrix,Civica,Clearview,CMS , CCS IT Keystone CCSIT,Civica Genero,Contractor Systems,CORE,CorVu,Cost Reductions,Covalent,CRM,Crystal Reports,CTI,CTX,Customer Relationship Management,Cashflow, COA,Coactiva,Codeman,Comino,Competitive Dialogue process,complex IT procurements,Component Accounting, Community Reward Services, Consilium, Consolidation, Consultancy,Consultant,Contact Manager,Context,CIH,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cadcorp,Cerrus Saturn,convergeOne,CACI,CPL, CRS Director, Deeplake,Development Systems,Accuserve,Document Management,Documotive,datasystems , Microsoft dynamics GP 2013, DynamicAI, Dynamic AI, ECMK,EDRMS,England, English,EnterpriseBI,ERP Systems,ERP,Elmhurst,Estatecraft,EDM,ESRI,Exponential-e, Finance, Financial Systems, Financials, Factorwise,Facebook ,Footprint,Fusion, Getting best from,gotonysmith, Grasp,Grip,GeoSolveIT,GIS,GGP,Genero,GCloud,G-Cloud,HouSys,Housing software,HFI (Housing Financials interface),HG,Housemark survey,Housing Blueprint,Housemark,Housing Portfolio Management System, HRA,housingtITguy,Housing Support Pro,HousingSupportPro,Housing Options,Hometeam, Housing Group,hotpixuk, HousingIT,hotpix,Hardware,Hitex,Housing Contact Company,housing predictive analytics, Impact Response,iPayPro,implementations,iRobot,In House,InHouse,In4,InMotion, InMotion2016, InMotion2015, InMotion2016 , Exhibition, conference,Housing Management Consultant,Housing Management Consultants, Infoflow,Information Technology,Informix,inHouse,in-house workforce,Information@Work components, Innovation,Inside Housing,Internet Portal,Internetalia,Information Management Server,IMS, Invu,Ireland,Irish,Inphase , IT Budget,IT Training,iWorld, Innovation Group Apex,ITIL, In4Systems Promaster,IT,Insight, iSupport,iSupportPro, Keylogic,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera,Keypera Hometeam,Keyfax,Ledgers,Linkedin,Locality,Liquid Voice,MD ,Mr Void , MrVoid, Measuring Change,Mebus,Miracle,MISCS,mDesign,mobile functionality,mobile platform,Monopoly board images and pictures, Montal,MS Dynamics,MS Dynamics CRM2011,Miracle Software,MDM,Management,CRM2013,Reporting,MI,M3,MIS,MIS-AMS,Mobysoft, Northgate Codeman,Neighbourhoods and Communities,NPS,NPS Housing,NPS CRM,NPS Job Manager Mobile, Northgate,Notice,NROSH,NINTEX,NINTEX workflow,Natural Forms,Nintexworkflow,NPS ASSIST, OA,OGC Buying Solutions,Ohms,OJEU Limits,OmFax,Omniledger,Open source software,open tender,OpenHousing,Opti-time,Oracle,Orchard,Optitime DRS,Outsource and outsourcing,OpenContractor,ORS,OneServe, PIMMS Data Systems, Paloma,performance management systems,PfH, Pick,PIMMS,pimms4communities, Planned maintenance,People Value,Plus, Peoplevalue,Portfolio Management System, PM,Progress,Promaster,Proval,Pyramid,PRINCE2,prince,Pamwin,PlanForm, Propoints, Pro-Points,predictive analytics for housing, QL,QLX,Quiss,Qlikview, QueryView,Queryview reporting,Registered Providers,Registered Social Landlord,Rent Increase Freezes,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,ROCC,RobotAutomation,Rave Technologies (India) PVT Limited, Rocket,RPs,RSL,Reality,ReAct,reidmark,RM865, Saffron,SAP,Scots, "Social Housing IT",Social Housing ICT, Scottish,Scenario, Scotland,SDM,sector,TonySmithHou,Safron,Server Virtualisation,servicing, Servitor,Sharepoint, Simdel,Simdell,SimPro,Sim Pro,Slash and Burn,Social Media,Software,SQL Open Housing,SQL Reporting Services,SQL reporting services,SQL Server,Star rating,Stores and Stock,Strategic Asset Management,Sunguard ,Surveys,Sx3,System alignment,Symatrix Human Capital Management, TonySmithHousing, Systemwise,SM,Sequoa,Serros,SP,Scout,score,Swordfish,Serengeti,SOTI,southview,Sunguard,Service Charges,Spotlight Service, Spotlightservice, SunAccounts, Social Housing Software Applications, Template,Task,Terminal Services, tonys , tonysm , tonysmi , tonysmith, tonysmitht, gotonysmith, tableau Business Dashboards, tonysmithth, tonysmiththa, tonysmiththat, tonysmiththath, tonysmiththatho, tonysmiththathou, tonysmiththathous, tonysmiththathousi, tonysmiththathousin, tonysmiththathousing,Tony Smith That,Tony Smith That Housing IT Guy,TonySmith that housing IT, guy,tonysmiththathousing, tonysmiththathousinguy,tony smith housing guy,sharepoint, share point, SHBVN, Three Star,Today,Total repairs,Tribal,Twitter,U2, tonysmith , tonysmiththat , thathousing , thathousingIT , thathousingITguy, TED,Tagish Casework,TP Tracker,Telecetera,Tagra,Trace, Totalmobile, Total Mobile, UniClass Enterprise,Unidata,Universal Housing,Universalcredit, universal credit, universal credits,UC,Universe,Unrest, UK, United Kingdom ,Ukhousing,UK Housing, Van Stock,Voice and data,Vantage Sentinel,verse one,verseone,vWork,Version One,Visualmetrics,Valueworks,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Windows Server,Workflow and tasking,Wheatley,Works Connect,worksConnect, Xmbrace,XML ,XenApp,Xen App ...

A Perfect (Housing) Day

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @hotpixUK
or LinkedIn here http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy

On the 12th November 2014, anyone in housing and does a bit of Twitter, will know that was #HousingDay. A phenomena punctuated by John Popham's roadtrip and a reputed tweet-reach (yes I think Twitter nerds do describe it as that) of 7.5 million. Here's a few tweets and opinions that show a window on the day http://ow.ly/EcYyX

Here is a less positive tweet from the day https://twitter.com/mhedmin/status/532496504163139585 just showing that #ukhousing is not all good news. Tenants & local activists are always pushing us harder to improve and be better. In fairness, from what I see, the sector is up for improvement. I believe in a 'real-news' not a 'good-news' culture. Well look where a good news culture got IDS with his Universal Credit project. (http://tonysmiththathousingitguy.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/thankstouniversalcredit.html ).

I spent my #HousingDay at an arts centre in Leamore, north of Walsall (Forest Arts Centre), doing some work with Walsall Housing Group (hashtag #whg since you wondered). It had been set for that day for many months and a fantastic amount of preparation went into it. More than 240 internal repair trade operatives were involved, a lot of their team leaders, and about 12 housing staff, including some directors. Change and improvement was in the air, as we were looking at how a project (hashtag #Dovetail since you wondered), would transform the repairs service, availability of materials and better service to customers.

The #whg Walsall Housing Group #Dovetail Trades day 12/11/2014

The project will make #whg repairs more efficient, save operatives time and deliver even more exceptional service to customers. Everyone wins and this day, part of a big communication, will help the core project team harness ideas and comments that will contribute to that aim.

I know a lot of folk at this organisation and it's a very good one, although I know few trade colleagues. By the end of the event I had chatted in detail to about a half dozen, all appearing pretty inspired, positive and up for change to do things better and improve neighbourhoods, across Walsall. I have got to admit, I was surprised and a bit humbled. These lads (& a few ladies) were at the sharp end of the repairs service and clearly cared about what they did. This is the type of story that would more accurately describe social housing, rather than the usual red top tabloid fodder of scroungers.

If you work in housing and bother to find out the facts, it's an essential part of UK life. Even if we have a nice mortgaged house in a nice area, chances are that some social housing is barely a 10 minute walk away. Better social housing neighbourhoods = better you and me neighbourhoods.

Now, anyone who follows me knows that I do a lot of Twitter. I do my best to give good twitter. However, once again let's not fool ourselves. Getting the world (well UK at any rate), to walk a day in our shoes, housing needs to go way beyond just Twitter. The hundred top tweeters on here take the risk of us all just shouting at ourselves.

From the dismal options we have at next May's elections (hashtag #May2015 since you wondered), I fear it will take much more than a single #Housingday each year, to move the housing shortage and the shortage of affordable (small 'a' up the agenda). Cmon #UKhousing, wake up to this before it's too late and lets truly reach 7.5 million UK adults (most of them not on Twitter). Get the real story out there. No one else will do it. Better to regret what you did, rather than what you wished you had done.

If you are attending next weeks London Olympia NHF IT conference, I will be there both days. If you follow me here, please DM me, or contact me via Linkedin and say hello at the event. Being a NW lad, I will also be at the Manchester Central version on the Thursday 27th. Equally if you are visiting that one, let me know. At the Olympia event, whg will be doing a session called 'Personalising The Call'. Come and see Ann Parkes, one of my users at Walsall, share her experience of how technology, people and process = great customer service and a cabinet of awards. 

If you think your organisation could use some help with your ICT or housing processes, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Related Post: Is this the time for DLOs to make a come back?

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

You can link with me on LinkedIn here - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy It would be great to connect !

Lou Reeds - Perfect Day.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009

PS As usual, if there are subjects you might like me to tackle on this blog, or you could benefit from any of our services please get in touch and let me know!

You can access a quick list of blog posts here
Could we help you or your organisation?
Our contact details are here, get in touch we will be pleased to chat about your problems or issue.




File Under: 360,1stTouch,4Js. , 07854655009 , #UKHousing,1st Touch,3squared, 365 agile Ltd, Acutence,Aareon,Academy,ActiveH,Alignment,ALMO,Anite,Apex,ArchHouse,Archouse,asbestos,Asprey e-state pro,Asset Management,Aurora,Average IT Costs,App,Associates,ACL,Abritas,AMS,AX,aspireview, Agile, BO,BPR,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Process Review,Business social networking, Blockwise, Block wise,BI,BancTec,BluTek,Bluebox, Castle,Castleton Cambridge,CBL,Cedar Open Accounts,Cx,Change,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, CHR,Citrix,Civica,Clearview,CMS , CCS IT Keystone CCSIT, Contractor Systems,CORE,CorVu,Cost Reductions,Covalent,CRM,Crystal Reports,CTI,CTX,Customer Relationship Management,Cashflow, COA,Coactiva,Codeman,Comino,Competitive Dialogue process,complex IT procurements,Component Accounting,Consilium,Consolidation,Consultancy,Consultant,Contact Manager,Context,CIH,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cadcorp,Cerrus Saturn,convergeOne,CACI,CPL Director, Deeplake,Development Systems,Document Management,Documotive,datasystems , Microsoft dynamics GP 2013 ECMK,EDRMS,England, English,EnterpriseBI,ERP Systems,ERP,Elmhurst,Estatecraft,EDM,ESRI,Exponential-e, Finance,Financial Systems,Financials, Factorwise,Facebook ,Fusion, Getting best from,gotonysmith, Grasp,Grip,GeoSolveIT,GIS,GGP, HouSys,Housing software,HG,Housemark survey,Housing Blueprint,Housing Group,hotpixuk, HousingIT,hotpix,Hardware,Hitex,Housing Contact Company, Impact Response,implementations,In House,In4,InMotion, InMotion2014, InMotion2015, InMotion2016 , Exhibition, conference, Infoflow,Information Technology,Informix,inHouse,in-house workforce, Innovation,Inside Housing,Internet Portal,Invu,Ireland,Irish,IT Budget,IT Training,iWorld, Innovation Group Apex,ITIL, In4Systems Promaster,IT,Insight, Keylogic,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera,Keyfax, Ledgers,Linkedin,Locality,Liquid Voice, MD ,Mr Void , MrVoid, Measuring Change,Mebus,Miracle,MISCS, mobile functionality,Monopoly board images and pictures, Montal,MS Dynamics,MS Dynamics CRM2011,Miracle Software,Management Reporting,MI,M3,MIS,MIS-AMS,Mobysoft, Northgate Codeman,Neighbourhoods and Communities, Northgate,Notice,NROSH,NINTEX , NINTEX workflow,Nintexworkflow, OA,OGC Buying Solutions,Ohms,OJEU Limits,OmFax,Omniledger,Open source software,open tender,OpenHousing,Opti-Time,Oracle,Orchard,Outsource and outsourcing,OpenContractor,ORS,OneServe, PIMMS Data Systems, Paloma,performance management systems,PfH,Pick,PIMMS,pimms4communities,Planned maintenance,People Value,Plus,Peoplevalue,PM,Progress,Promaster,Proval,Pyramid,PRINCE2,prince,Pamwin, QL,QLX,Quiss,Qlikview,Redstone PLC, Registered Providers,Registered Social Landlord,Rent Increase Freezes,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,ROCC , Rocket,RPs,RSL,Reality,ReAct,reidmark,RM865, Saffron,SAP,Scots, Scottish,Scotland,SDM,sector,Server Virtualisation,servicing, Servitor,Sharepoint,Simdel,Simdell,Slash and Burn,Social Media,Software,SQL Open Housing,SQL Reporting Services,SQL reporting services,SQL Server,Star rating,Stores and Stock,Strategic Asset Management,Sunguard ,Surveys,Sx3,System alignment, Systemwise,SM,Sequoa,Serros,SP,Scout,score,Swordfish,Serengeti,SOTI,southview,Sunguard,Service Charges, Template,Task,Terminal Services, tonys , tonysm , tonysmi , tonysmit, tonysmith, tonysmitht, gotonysmith, tonysmithth, tonysmiththa, tonysmiththat, tonysmiththath, tonysmithth, tonysmiththa,tonysmiththat, tonysmiththath, tonysmiththatho, tonysmiththathou, tonysmiththathous, tonysmiththathousi, tonysmiththathousin, tonysmiththathousing, housingIT, ITguy, HousingITguy,HousingGuy, tonysmiththathousingg, tonysmiththathousinguy, sharepoint, share point Three Star,Today,Total repairs,Tribal,Twitter,U2, tonysmith , tonysmiththat , thathousing , thathousingIT , thathousingITguy ,TED,Tagish Casework,TP Tracker,Telecetera,Tagra,Trace, UniClass Enterprise,Unidata,Universal Housing,Universalcredit, universal credit, universal credits,UC,Universe,Unrest, UK, United Kingdom ,Ukhousing,UK Housing, Van Stock,Voice and data,Vantage Sentinel,Version One,Visualmetrics,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Windows Server,Workflow and tasking,Wheatley, Xmbrace,XML ,XenApp,Xen App .