Standing up, speaking out: The leadership challenge in housing and care

When I first stepped into the role of leading Hanover Scotland, I anticipated challenges—but the sheer scale and complexity have gone beyond what I expected. Tackling the affordable housing crisis and advocating for older people’s rights requires more than operational expertise; it demands bold, resilient leadership that drives systemic change.

The Scottish Government’s recent decision to restore affordable housing funding and increase the budget for medical adaptations has provided welcome relief. But as I see it, leadership now means going beyond gratitude – it means holding space for both appreciation and advocacy. While progress is evident, gaps in housing support services remain stark, leaving too many older people in homes that no longer meet their needs; and the recent rise in employers’ national insurance only heightens these challenges faced by organisations to meet demand.

Thought leadership in this space means being the voice that doesn’t waver when pointing out uncomfortable truths. For me, that has involved standing on stages like last month’s CIH Scottish Housing Festival and speaking plainly: Scotland faces a demographic time bomb. By 2040, more than 730,000 people will be aged 75 or over. We are nowhere near ready but pointing out these truths is only helpful if we can also put well formulated ideas on the table, otherwise you can become just another part of the problem.

What’s become increasingly clear to me is that true leadership requires pushing for integrated solutions. Furthermore, housing, health, and social care cannot exist in silos. We need bold, joined-up strategies now, not after the crisis has worsened. The recent Older People’s Housing Taskforce report in England on Housing that promotes wellbeing and community for an ageing population (opens new window) brought key partners together and set out practical recommendations. Scotland lacks a similar cross-sector leadership approach – but there is still time to act.

Looking ahead, we need leaders who will stand firm in demanding the pace of change accelerates. Scotland’s Housing to 2040 strategy offers a foundation, but leadership means making sure promises on accessible housing, adaptable design, and funding are not only met – but exceeded.

For anyone considering leadership in sectors like ours, know this: it’s less about having all the answers and more about stepping forward, challenging the status quo, and leading with empathy. Be bold. Speak up. The difference you can make is bigger than you think.

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If you are an early career professional working in our sector and want to learn about the leadership experiences and qualities of senior industry leaders and how these can help shape your own pathway, the Housing LIN’s Future Leaders Programme returns in 2025/2026. Look out for the announcement this May when we will be inviting Housing LIN members to apply to join our next cohort of Future Leaders.

Lastly, if you found this of interest, check out the dedicated Housing LIN Scotland webpages for a range of policy documents and good practice, latest research and other useful reports on housing for an ageing population in Scotland.