Leanne Howson, one of our Income Officers, made the move from policing to housing in search of a better work-life balance. In her own words, Leanne shares how her experience in policing shaped her approach to supporting customers, the challenges she’s overcome, and why she’s passionate about making a difference...
I spent 12 years as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO), working unsociable hours. But when I became a parent, my priorities shifted. After having my second child in 2016, who was poorly from birth, I realised how precious time is. I wanted to be there for the school pick-ups, assemblies, and parents’ evenings - so I knew it was time for a change.
I’d always wanted to help people, so housing felt like the right fit. It was a chance to make a real impact, and I quickly realised how many skills I could bring with me. In the police, I had no protective equipment, I had to use my voice to de-escalate situations, a skill that’s served me well in housing, especially when having difficult conversations.
Now, as an Income Officer at Yorkshire Housing, I help customers manage their rent and finances, supporting them to stay in their homes. One thing I didn’t expect was how different decision-making would be. In policing, every decision had to be checked and double-checked. Here, I’ve got the freedom to get on with my job and make the right calls for our customers and it’s a refreshing change. My past role showed me some of the toughest sides of society, but working in housing has given me a new perspective. Our communities are full of brilliant people making a difference every day. I want our customers to feel in control of their situations, and the coaching techniques I’ve picked up along the way have been invaluable in helping them do just that!
Yorkshire Housing’s flexible working has made a huge difference to my life. I can fit my work around my family, whether it’s dropping my daughter off at school or adjusting my hours to meet customer needs. The balance is so much better now and it’s not just improved family life, but my mental wellbeing too. To any woman considering a career change, especially into housing, I say go for it! There are so many fantastic opportunities. I’ve even gone back into learning, completing a Chartered Institute of Housing qualification and an aspiring manager course. It’s been a challenge, but I love widening my horizons now that my children are getting older.
International Women’s Day is about equal opportunities, celebrating successes, and lifting each other up. I’m surrounded by incredible women at Yorkshire Housing who’ve supported and inspired me along the way. My biggest inspiration, though, is my grandma. She left school at 15 in 1940, during World War II, and joined the Air Training Squadron (ATS) before becoming a sewing machinist. She was so skilled that she became a top earner doing piece work, a supervisor, and even sewed for what we now know as Marks & Spencer. But beyond her hard work, she was fearless – bouncing on a space hopper in her late 80s, travelling, and even braving the Tower of Terror at Disney! She was independent, strong, and always up for an adventure. If I can be even half as courageous and instil that in my children, I know we’ll achieve great things.