Following a tour of the facilities, the MP spoke with residents and staff at Abbeyfield House, who explained the perks of living and working there and the challenges faced by sheltered housing providers.
House manager, Dhanif Paramban said: “Our residents described the visit as truly wonderful and said how much they appreciated him taking the time to sit with everyone, chat, and genuinely engage with them.
“They especially enjoyed hearing him speak about his journey into becoming an MP, what inspired him, what motivated him to take that path, and the experiences that shaped him along the way.”
Mr Smith was impressed by the residents’ interest in political issues and their willingness to discuss pertinent matters with him.
He said: “It was a pleasure to visit Abbeyfield House. The residents spoke warmly about the environment they live in and the staff who support them. They also took the opportunity to raise a range of political matters with me, from migration to taxation, as well as local issues in the constituency.
“They certainly didn’t hold back, and their robust questions and insight made for an enjoyable and memorable visit.”
The visit was a continuation of Abbeyfield Living Society’s engagement with the Starts at Home campaign, spearheaded by the National Housing Foundation (NHF). The campaign aims to highlight and celebrate the value of sheltered housing, raise awareness and build political support for the future of the sector in the UK.
Starts at Home also seeks to encourage the government to increase the amount of funding available for supported housing projects and make the funds easier to obtain.
