Housing innovation in Ireland: Rachel Lartey, resident housing manager 

As part of our new series, we spoke with Rachel Lartey, resident housing manager at Clann Housing, about how creativity and collaboration are transforming age-friendly housing for the better.

Can you tell us about yourself and your career in housing to date? 

I’m the resident housing manager at Clann Housing (part of Clúid Housing), where alongside my tenancy and estate management responsibilities, I lead our creative and participatory work to build connected, age-friendly communities. 

My professional journey spans social housing, neighbourhood services and community development, and over the past decade I’ve focused on strengthening relationships between residents, their homes and their wider neighbourhoods. 

At Clann, I draw on that background to ensure that older people are not just housed but supported, engaged and empowered to shape their lives and communities.

Why was an Arts and Health research project the chosen vehicle for tackling ageism in housing, and what challenges did that pose? 

At Clann, we see housing as more than just providing homes. It’s about fostering belonging, purpose, and identity. We chose an Arts and Health approach because creativity offers a unique way to explore and challenge attitudes around ageing, stigma, and self-ageism. 

Our ‘Reframing Ageing through Storytelling’ project invited residents and staff to engage in poetry, clay work, painting, and monologue writing to examine how ageism affects daily life. 

What emerged was the varying perceptions and lived experiences of ageing. Ageing is not a uniform experience. Our own sensitivities and resistance also emerge naturally through the process. Internalised (self) ageism can be deeply personal and painful, bring up feelings of shame and anger. 

It was of tantamount importance that the project was navigated with the upmost sensitivity and awareness. The result was a meaningful project that connected people, built understanding, and inspired action. 

Can you share any unexpected insights that emerged from the storytelling process, and how that has influenced Clann’s work? 

One powerful insight was how many residents had internalised ageist beliefs — often feeling their experiences or achievements weren’t significant enough to share. Through creative expression, residents began to reframe ageing as a time of growth, contribution, and wisdom. 

This has had a lasting impact on our work. We now design engagement projects that position residents as storytellers and knowledge holders, such as the ‘Changing Perceptions Project’ and the ‘Elsie Black Oral Histories’. These initiatives invite residents to share their life stories, challenge stereotypes, and celebrate their achievements. 

The effect has been transformative. Communities feel stronger, more connected, and prouder of who they are.

What advice would you give to another housing organisation looking to initiate a similar partnership? 

Start with listening. Build relationships before you build projects. Successful partnerships depend on trust, shared purpose, and time — time to co-design, plan, and create safe spaces where residents feel confident to participate. 

The most valuable resource isn’t necessarily funding. It’s people’s energy, creativity, and willingness to collaborate. When residents feel ownership of the process, the outcomes are far richer. 

For Clann, creativity has become a cornerstone of our engagement approach. It helps uncover hidden stories, strengthen communities, and remind us all that housing is ultimately about people, connection, and belonging.