Joe Halewood is a forthright supported housing consultant since 2000 who has blogged under his Speye Joe name since 2011. Speye Joe is Joe keeping an eye on SP (Supporting People) and I advise hundreds of (housing-related) support providers in this complex and ever-changing arena.
As a consultant I only have myself to answer to and, in my blogs I write freely and assertively on all supported housing, homelessness, general needs housing, housing benefit and tenant related matters as critically without my having to answer to a boss. I am extremely fortunate to be able to do so and it is liberating to say the things many providers and professionals want to say yet cannot.
I don’t set out to court controversy yet I ask questions and posit views that challenge social and private landlords, governments central and local, politicians of all parties, and even tenants. It is naive to resent scrutiny and some even call holding them to account as abuse! Many resort to attacking the messenger and hope you forget the message and similar deflections.
Argument I make is supported by evidence and those pesky things called fact – which often spoil many views, myths and opinions of those who resent scrutiny and criticism – and facts are especially and notoriously absent when policy solutions are offered by governments local and national and of all political persuasion.
We all owe it to those we term as ‘vulnerable’ to constantly and continually improve the services we offer with far more actions and far fewer words
My Twitter avatar is the glorious Sgt Ernest Bilko below and you can contact and message me at @SpeyeJoe or at joehalewood@gmail.com
Speye Joe 