The Housing Corporation launched its Neighbourhoods and Communities Strategy, with the message that housing associations need to work harder with the communities they serve.
The strategy aims to build on the achievements of housing associations through working with local communities and delivering added value activities. It aims to encourage more associations to become further involved in activities beyond simply housing.
The strategy challenges housing providers to look beyond housing and build strong relationships with local government and residents, to create and maintain dynamic communities where people want to live, work, and bring up their children. It contains a range of proposals aimed at promoting a step change in the way housing associations work within their communities.
Those proposals include:
Exploring alternative approaches to providing funding, such as up-front investment to kick-start the regeneration of areas with deprivation.
Confirming its intention to consult later this year on a requirement that all associations ensure that there is resident involvement on every board and committee responsible for service delivery.
Copies of the strategy are available on the Housing Corporation website at www.housingcorp.gov.uk.