December 2019 - Historical reports

“Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it”

Well, Dwell hasn’t been ignoring it, but we do seem to be stuck in it! The problems of housing have been with us far too long, as these images of old publications show.

Our thanks to an original trustee of Wellington Housing Trust. She cleared out her library and sent us these old papers and reports.

This report on Wellington's housing problems was written in the mid-1970s! Yes, the list of housing issues was written over 40 years old - we'd probably write the same list today!

But we refuse to be depressed by this! Knowing we are in a long line of passionate people working for something better helps us stay energised. As do these great words from our ex-trustee:

"I find it both exciting to think how far Dwell has come since our early beginnings – and sad that worse housing challenges face the country today. However the work of Dwell continues to give me great hope and inspiration. You are playing a hugely important role at a practical level and modelling some of what is needed in wider systems change too!"