Out soon in print and online, the new issue of WHQ focuses on some serious subjects in turbulent times.
In addition to the continuing impact of Covid-19 on everyone connected with housing, we look in depth at work to tackle homelessness during the pandemic and to make sure that there is no going back to the streets.
Housing minister Julie James tells us she’s been ‘genuinely choked with emotion’ about the way that everyone has pulled together to make such a success of the work on homelessness so far and that she is ‘not a housing minister who’s going to have people forced to return to the streets’.
But in a wide-ranging interview, she also looks forward to next year’s Senedd elections and tells us about the key role she hopes housing and regeneration will play in post-Covid recovery.
We also have an interview with Lynda Thorne, Cardiff Council’s cabinet member for cabinet and communities, about the work the city has been doing on homelessness during the pandemic and its plans for the future.
And we hear from Jon Sparkes of the Homelessness Action Group, Katie Dalton of Cymorth Cymru and Bill Rowlands of the Housing Networks on what needs to happen next.
Black Lives Matter became the big issue of the summer after protests against the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and quickly shone a light on racial inequality throughout society.
In a special section we have articles from four current and former students on the housing studies course at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Ahead of a session at the virtual TAI next week, Betty Mwesigwa, Ade Ifaturoti Ayo Afolabi and Winni Tandi write about their experiences, their hopes for their careers and what they think should be done to advance racial inequality in housing in Wales.
We also hear from Ross Thomas on Tai Pawb’s Deeds not Words campaign and from Tamsin Stirling on what we can do, individually and collectively, to address racial inequality.
As new local lockdowns show only too clearly, Covid-19 shows no signs of going away and we have a series of articles on different impacts of the pandemic.
Ken Gibb and Chris Foy introduce a research project on its impact on housing policy in the UK and Australia and Craig Gurney looks beyond ‘stay home, stay safe’ to what could be the long-lasting harms of the lockdown.
Clare Budden explains the far-reaching impacts of Covid-19 on the way ClwydAlyn organises its operations and we have updates from Sadye Baker of Trivallis and David Tovey of ateb.
With more on leasehold reform, domestic abuse and modular housing, plus all our regular features, it’s good to be back.
The new issue of WHQ will be with print subscribers next week. All articles will be on the WHQ website, some free to access but most reserved for subscribers only.
For more details about subscribing to the best (and only) Welsh housing magazine go here.