Focus on small housing associations by Corporation
Housing Corporation News Release
Focus on small housing associations by Corporation
Research to explore needs of small housing associations commissioned
3 August 2007 Ref: 74/07
Research into the support needed by small housing associations has been commissioned by the Housing Corporation, looking specifically at the provision of support for this area. A sounding board focus group has helped the Corporation draw up a tender for this research, which is being launched today.
This sounding board consists of members of small housing associations, representative bodies and the Corporation, and has been established to examine the type of guidance and advice small housing associations might need - how effective they are and how they can be improved.
The research will explore the most effective ways of helping small associations and will seek the views from these associations and their representative bodies.
The types of support and advice that smaller housing associations may need includes:
• training and development;
• good practice guidance;
• brief targeted policy updates;
• advice on 'hard issues';
• facilitation for peer review and networking opportunities;
• access to cost-effective consultancy support.
Housing Corporation Field Director for the South East and leader on this project, Fiona Cruickshank said, "Many small housing associations are either BME housing associations or provide support for vulnerable groups. When assessing the type of support they need, it is vitally important to seek the views of a variety of small associations and their representative bodies.
"A Housing Corporation Innovation and Good Practice project looking at the pressures faced by small housing associations is already underway, and we hope to build on this research."
Ends.
Notes to Editors:
1) For further press information, please contact Naomi Evans on 020 7393 2118.
2) The sounding board's first meeting was held in May 2007.
3) The Housing Corporation's Regulatory Arrangements for Small Associations (RASA) Unit in Leicester deals with small housing associations - associations registered with the Corporation which have fewer than 250 homes. 1,200 small housing associations are currently registered. When associations with fewer homes than 1,000 also transfer to the RASA Unit, this will add another 100 to the total.
4) There are a number of organisations to which small housing associations can be federated. Some are federated to more than one; others are not federated to any. These organisations include:
The National Housing Federation;
The Almshouse Association;
The Abbeyfield Society;
The Confederation of Housing Co-operatives;
The National Council of the YMCA;
The Federation of Black Housing Organisations.
5) The Housing Corporation is the Government agency responsible for investing in new affordable homes and regulating over 1,500 housing association across England. It biggest ever investment programme of £3.9 billion for 2006-08 will fund 84,000 homes; 49,000 of these will be for affordable rent, and 35,000 will be for affordable sale through the Government's new HomeBuy initiative, helping people to get a foot on the property ladder.
6) The Housing Corporation is working with English Partnerships and Communities and Local Government to establish the proposed new homes agency.
