Stephen Johnson studied at Hammersmith and West London College and Durham University where he obtained a BA Honours Degree in Politics. Stephen previously worked with London's homeless at St. Martin in the Fields. He has lived in social housing since 1994 in Notting Hill and is very active in resident involvement activities such as the Health and Disability Group provided by his landlord. In 2010 Stephen helped set up Local Scrutiny Panels for tenants and leaseholders to scrutinise landlord performance, such as on repairs.

He feels strongly about anti-social behaviour (ASB) and how it is tackled within social housing, as well as how specific groups are affected by ASB and crime. Stephen is active with the Notting Hill Genesis LGBT residents' group and sits on an LGBT police community consultation committee that meets monthly at Kensington Police Station. Stephen also lives with health and disability issues and advocates for adaptations to allow full participation in meetings and other tenant involvement activities.