New Chair Brings Fresh Perspective to Supporting Communities

Dave Maher on the Steps of Stormont

We are thrilled to introduce Dave Maher, the new chair of Supporting Communities. Dave is a tenant with Woven Housing and a member of the Housing Policy Panel. He is passionate about empowering tenants to improve the social housing system.

In a recent interview, the new chair outlined his aim to help people take control over their lives and communities. “We need to foster inclusivity and social cohesion within communities,” Maher says. “I would like to see us help promote programs to bring people of different ages and backgrounds together.”

While he admits to having a “very steep learning curve” after being elevated quickly to the role, Maher is diving in with enthusiasm. “It all happened so fast - I never really thought about what it might entail,” he says. “The seriousness of it has struck home, and I am very committed to doing a good job. I have a tough act to follow, so no pressure!“

Coming from Outside the Housing Sector

Unlike our previous chair, Lorraine Campbell, who had a long career at the Housing Executive, Maher didn’t come from inside the housing sector. Originally from Dublin, Dave spent his working life in the transport business before getting involved with the housing association movement a few years ago through Habinteg, now known as Woven Housing.

“I’ve gone from being moderately right-wing...to having views more along the lines of socialism,” Maher says with a laugh. He says his views shifted after going through his own experience with homelessness, which gave him a new perspective on social exclusion and deprivation.

“People need to feel involved,” Maher insists. “If they feel like they’re on the outside, that’s not a good thing.”

Having retired, he now wants to use his time to give back. He aims to be a voice for the voiceless. “If people feel excluded, it leads to anti-social behaviour, as we have all experienced,” he says. “I hope that as an organisation, we can champion community support that promotes inclusivity and equality.”

Maher says he feels like “a small fish in a very big pond” among the many talented leaders at Supporting Communities. “Everyone has been so nice. I’m getting a lot of support to learn on the job.”

Pushing for Real Tenant Participation

One of Maher’s core principles is the need for genuine tenant participation and empowerment. As a tenant himself, he’s been disappointed to find others so disengaged, with a common refrain of “Why bother? It won’t do any good.”

He plans to push for flatter hierarchies that distribute power and get tenants’ voices truly represented in decision-making.

“I would advise anyone and everyone to become more involved in all community matters, not just in housing,” he urges. “One of my regrets is that I didn’t become more involved when I was much younger. I know there are plenty of young, capable people out there. I would advise them to grasp opportunities to become involved in building a fairer society in whatever way they can.”

An All-Ireland Approach

Dave is enthusiastic about Supporting Communities’ expansion into the Republic of Ireland, which will allow an all-island approach to improving tenant participation.

“I think we both have so much to learn, North and South,” Maher says. He believes the different management styles from each tradition could complement each other. While not taking partisan stances, Maher sees cross-border collaboration as a way to break down “them and us” mentalities. “We have far more in common than people might like to acknowledge,” he says.

With his long career in business, working with companies across Ireland, Maher has experienced how involving people can unite different perspectives and produce positive synergies.

Bold Ideas and Big Expectations

Dave says he is learning a lot from sitting on the Housing Policy Panel and researching social housing methods in other places like Scandinavia.

Maher is brimming with ideas, large and small, for transforming the housing sector. From abolishing bright signage that identifies and segregates social housing to restructuring how communities are designed in direct consultation with future residents, he’s keen to shake things up.

“I hope I don’t frighten people too much with my radical ideas!” Maher says. Yet, at the same time, he wrestles with self-doubt, wondering if he’s really up for such a weighty role when his qualifications are life experience rather than academics.

In the end, though, Maher is undaunted by the challenges ahead. “There’s never a good time for it - just get involved,” is the advice he says he’d give tenants considering stepping up to a board or other leadership role. “I can’t see a time when somebody would regret it.”

With his working-class roots, passion for equality and democracy, and an uncompromising vision for change, Dave Maher seems poised to inject fresh energy into Supporting Communities.

We’re excited to work with Dave as he finds his feet in his new role!