My story into housing: How housing was in my DNA

We interviewed Niamh Quinn, anti-social behaviour team leader at Tuath Housing and member of CIH’s professional standard committee, about her role in housing and how she got into the sector in the first place. Read on to hear her story. 

What do you do in housing and how are you involved in the sector?

I'm the anti-social behaviour (ASB) team leader at Tuath Housing. I lead a team that only deals with anti-social behaviour, so basically all the wonderfully unusual situations that arise when people live near other people.

Working in ASB is a mix of detective work, mediation, counselling, conflict resolution and risk management. We meet such a range of people and get so many different scenarios coming our way, so there’s never a dull moment!

I absolutely love the stories. I love meeting people. I am fascinated about how people tick, what motivates them, and what angers them. I know it sounds strange, but my favourite people to meet are those that have been through countless hardships and still continue to plough on. They are so incredibly inspiring.

I am also a member of the CIH professional standards committee, which is something I'm incredibly proud of.

When I noticed they were recruiting new committee members a few years ago, my first thought was that I probably wasn't senior enough and that CIH would be looking for people with far more experience than me. Thankfully, with some encouragement and support from the wonderful Janine Green, I decided to put my application in anyway. It turned out to be one of the best professional decisions I've ever made.

I absolutely love being part of the committee. It's given me the opportunity to contribute to the profession beyond my day-to-day role, work alongside passionate and knowledgeable colleagues from across the sector and play a small part in promoting high standards within housing.

What were you interested in when you were younger and how did it lead you to housing?

The honest answer is... it didn't. Both my parents were social workers, and after watching how emotionally challenging their jobs could be, I swore I'd never do anything remotely similar. I think everyone’s parents are the same and they love an “I told you so” moment, so they take great delight in my career choice. At the end of the day, however hard I fought against it, helping people seems to be hardwired into my DNA.

I was always fascinated by people and why they behave the way they do, but I never sat in a classroom dreaming of a future in housing. In fact, I was always jealous of my friends who were so sure of what they wanted to be, like a teacher, nurse, doctor or engineer. At one stage I wanted to be a nun, but I think that might have been more inspired by Maria in The Sound of Music than anything else! I didn’t even know that housing was a career and I certainly didn’t know what ASB was.

What was your first role in housing? How did you get into it?

My route into housing was pretty run-of-the-mill. I saw a housing job advertised and I needed to relocate to Belfast so despite not knowing much about housing, I applied for it and I got it! That's it. So, no childhood ambition. No five-year plan. No single life-changing moment where I suddenly discovered my love for housing: just a great opportunity and a new job to get stuck into.

My first role was as a supporting people officer for Praxis Care Group. I absolutely loved working there. It was a special place to be and working with people so dedicated to helping others ignited my passion for housing. I then moved on to Clanmil Housing Association, where I stayed for 18 years, starting as a housing officer working mostly with older people and specialist housing for members of the Traveller community. Safe to say, I made my home in Clanmil. I grew up there and learnt so much.

What has your career progression been like?

Like many people in housing, I started in front-facing services. After working in older people services I then moved on to working in general needs housing.

My career took a back seat for a good few years as I focused on being a mummy to my three boys. I dropped down to four days a week and I put my heart into looking after them, I was so lucky that Clanmil were so supportive of this. They were very much of the view that family comes first.

Once the boys were a bit older, I was fortunate to be promoted to senior housing officer, after which I moved across to Tuath Housing Association in the South of Ireland to a completely new jurisdiction and different legislation. I am now the team lead for the ASB team in Tuath. We manage all the ASB cases throughout the whole of Ireland, which covers over 18,000 (and counting) properties.

What is your role now? What do you value most about it?

As ASB team leader, I support both residents and colleagues in resolving issues that affect people's ability to enjoy their homes and communities. What I value most is seeing the difference our work can make. Housing can literally change someone's quality of life. Of course, some days that means tackling serious and complex issues. Other days it means just listening to people and trying to support them.

But underneath all of that, it's about helping people feel safe in their home. Your home should be your sanctuary.

A very wise auntie of mine once said, “No matter what happens out there, when you come home and close your door and rest your head on that door, you are safe.” I want everyone to have that feeling. Your home should cocoon yourself from the rest of the world.

Did you have to undertake any qualifications or training to get to your current role? How did you find these?

While I was in Clanmil, they supported me through my qualifications and I completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Housing with the University of Ulster, headed up by the enigmatic Paddy Gray. I loved the course and made friends for life there. Since then, I have done a Leadership and Management qualification and recently completed the ASB Level 2 in ASB Case Management with Green and Burton.

I am always open to learning and I think it is so important. It can give you a reset just when you need it. It opens your eyes to different ways of approaching issues. I think the one thing that you have to accept about working in housing is you will never be an expert in anything. There is always something to learn!

Would you recommend working in housing to others?

Absolutely. Although, I would say working in housing is not for everyone. People who work in housing are a particular type of person. Housing is challenging, unpredictable and can be chaotic. You can see a lot of darkness in the job, and your world view can become very changed, but for me, I absolutely love it. I look for the light even in the darkest of situations. I have met the most incredible characters, and experienced so many weird and wonderful things along the way. It has been such a humbling lesson in humanity. I do love helping and supporting people. Being there and solving problems that have a real impact on people's lives is such a rewarding thing.

You'll also develop skills you never knew you needed. You'll become part negotiator, part therapist, part referee, part investigator and occasionally a translator of strongly worded emails.

I would definitely recommend working in housing, it’s so diverse and there are so many opportunities. I wouldn’t want to do any other job. I love it!

Main image: Niamh Quinn