In April 2001 we were reporting:
Initial work on updating the annual Housing Finance Review found that there has been a sharp decline in the numbers of private tenants receiving Housing Benefit over the last four years, resulting in a substantial saving in expenditure. The key factors contributing to the fall in take up have been limits on rents eligible for Housing Benefit introduced since 1996, falling unemployment, and the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit...
Housing associations were being invited to bid for the second round of Government funding to provide homes for some of the most vulnerable people in the community. The Safer Communities Supported Housing Fund, which is administered by the Housing Corporation, amounts to £120 million capital funding and £17 million revenue funding for housing and support services for people fleeing domestic violence, ex-offenders, people with drug and alcohol problems, teenage parents and other young people at risk. Around 5,000 new units of accommodation, together with floating support services for a further 3,600 units of accommodation, will be provided over the next three years...
Twenty-two of the poorest neighbourhoods in England heard that they will benefit from the £1.1 billion allocated under Round 2 of the New Deal for Communities (NDC) programme. Each NDC partnership has developed detailed 10-year plans to transform their areas through a wide variety of community-based initiatives and programmes - particularly focusing on reducing crime, improving people's health, tackling joblessness, raising educational achievement, and improving the physical environment. The total amount dedicated to NDC over the next ten years is almost £2 billion...
The Housing Corporation launched PAIS online, a pilot programme which for the first time gives tenants, lenders, local authorities, and other stakeholders an opportunity to examine performance assessments of registered social landlords (RSLs). The Corporation produces annually a performance assessment and investment summary (PAIS) for each RSL bidding for Social Housing Grant. The prime purpose of these reports is to confirm whether or not the RSL is an organisation fit to receive further public funding. Until now the PAIS was sent to the RSL concerned but not distributed more widely...
Direct electronic links, which will allow more than 500 housing associations to update information held by their regulator via the internet, have gone live. The new Online Registry system allows direct data entry into the Housing Corporation's computer systems and enables the organisation to provide an Online Public Register. This first stage of the project consists of two separate but linked components: the Online Public Register of Social Landlords and the Online Registry...
In April 2005 we were reporting:
From 1 April 2005, Wales will have its own audit office, independent of government, to ensure public services at every level are held to account. The Wales Audit Office (WAO) was created by a merger of the Audit Commission in Wales and the National Audit Office (NAO) in Wales. WAO will take over responsibility for the inspection of Welsh housing providers, previously undertaken by the Audit Commission in Wales...
English Partnerships announced details of the Design for Manufacture Competition along with the first four sites which will be used to pilot the construction of sustainable, well-designed, good quality homes for around £60,000. The competition is being run by the national regeneration agency on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Organisations and consortia are being invited to bid for the right to construct on one or more new developments on sites which are owned by English Partnerships and other public-sector partners. Around 470 homes will be built on the initial pilot sites...
Members of Greenpeace attempted to install a solar panel on the roof of the home of Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott. The action was a protest at the Government's failure to make homes in the UK more energy efficient. About 20 protesters climbed on to the roof of Mr Prescott's home in Hull and attempted to erect some 60 square feet of solar panelling and display a protest banner...
Significant progress is being made in the drive to prevent and tackle homelessness across Scotland, according to a new monitoring report. The Homelessness Monitoring Group's (HMG) second progress report highlights achievements in implementing the aims of the 2003 Homelessness Act and the recommendations of the Homelessness Task Force...
Former homeless person and past drug addict, Jamie McCoy, launched his own platform for homeless people to make their views known. Jamie's Big Voice weblog gave a commentary on the General Election campaign, challenging candidates to participate and giving homeless people the chance to express their opinions...
Station Foyer, the first Foyer in the UK to focus exclusively on the needs of refugees, officially opened in Sheffield. The 20-bed Refugee HA foyer will provide training and support for refugees, to help them live independently within the community. Like all foyers, Station Foyer will offer access to accommodation, support networks and education, as well as training and job search opportunities. In addition, the project will aim to help the residents to develop life skills and knowledge of British society and culture in an atmosphere of mutual respect and care. They will also be encouraged to volunteer and involve themselves in local community ventures...
A new report from the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) calls for arms length management organisations (ALMOs) to be given more financial freedom, to allow them to continue beyond their initial remits of achieving the Decent Homes target. The report lists options aimed at allowing ALMOs to operate on a self-sufficient basis, funded from their rental incomes...