Housing associations are helping to fight the economic gloom by offering work opportunities to unemployed 18 to 24-year-olds in their area.
They have created more than 1,000 jobs for young people in recession-hit communities in England and Wales since October 2009, including 335 posts in London, after a successful bid for government funding by the National Housing Federation.
Hornsey YMCA is one of the Federation's London members offering local people a chance at employment. Maxwell Sarpong, aged 23, was hired as a trainee maintenance officer after successfully applying for the newly created role in December. He said:
"Changing residents' locks, carpet changing, painting - it's quite interesting. Every day you're doing a different job.
"I'm learning how to work by myself. It has been really valuable. The managers at the YMCA have given me an opportunity and I haven't let them down."
The jobs are aimed at 18-24 year olds who have been out of work for a year or face considerable disadvantage in the labour market.
The posts last for at least six months, pay the minimum wage or above, and offer at least 25 hours of work a week. The Federation secured money from the DWP's Future Jobs Fund after a joint bid with environmental charity Groundwork UK.
The Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and Habinteg Housing Association have joined forces to celebrate the achievements of the first intake of disabled trainees to enter the housing sector.
CIH has set up the Positive Action for Disability (PAfD) programme to redress the imbalance of disabled people who are currently not adequately represented in the housing sector as professionals.
The Nicky Chapman award, which will be an annual event, was launched at the CIH annual conference at Harrogate.
Baroness Nicky Chapman was a formidable disability campaigner with an equal passion for lobbying for disability rights. She was the first disabled peer to enter the House of Lords. She was Chair of Habinteg Housing Association's Board of Management from September 2006 until her death in September 2009.
To commemorate Nicky Chapman's contribution to the disability rights movement and to the housing sector, Habinteg has sponsored a prize which will be awarded each year to the best performing disabled trainee as part of the CIH's PAfD programme
Paul Gamble, Acting Chief Executive at Habinteg, said:
"Habinteg applauds the PAfD programme, it's a massive step in giving disabled people the opportunity to shape the future of housing from the inside.
"Habinteg has been looking for an initiative to support in Nicky's name; she was passionate about giving disabled people a chance. She fought so hard herself, for so many things, and gave back so much as a mentor - I see this as a fitting tribute."