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Our impact

We've been changing the face of housing since 1960.

By proactively engaging with housing, people and places, we aim to deliver long-term, lasting change to those most in housing need. Our projects are locally-focused, but have national resonance - and have done since we were established in 1960. Some highlights from our history includes:

In the 1960s:

In the early 1960s, we provided start-up funding for Circle 33, New Islington & Hackney HA (now Family Mosaic), Paddington Churches (now part of Genesis) and the Abbeyfield in 1966, along with the Notting Hill Housing Trust and other housing association partners and activists, we supported the creation of Shelter, and continued to support its development throughout the 1960s by administering the funds it raised.

In the 1970s:

In 1973, we worked with Age Concern to develop the first warden training for sheltered housing schemes.

In the 1980s:

In 1980, we played a crucial role in developing the regional resource centres, which were established to provide training, information and advice to organisations involved in special needs housing in 1982.

  • We funding research that resulted in a groundbreaking report recommending housing provision for BME elders in 1983,
  • We funded a major initiative with 14 rural housing providers to continue the development of urgently needed low-cost rural housing for rent in 1985, along with Shelter,
  • We set up Care and Repair Ltd, a national organisation to support projects helping elderly home owners remain comfortable and secure in their homes (with support from the Henry Smith Charity) - in the 1990s it was appointed by the government as the national organisation for home improvement agencies in 1987,
  • We raised over £500,000 in capital and revenues for the international year of Shelter for the Homeless, benefiting numerous organisations including London Connection and also establishing Homeless International in 1989,
  • We established and coordinated the development of National Vocational Qualification assessment centres across the country for people working in special needs housing

In the 1990s:

In 1990, we played a key role in funding new black housing associations in England, resourcing their capacity and development which supported a significant number inf registration with the Housing Corporation in 1991.

We negotiated a funding package that secured additional resources from the Housing Corporation, which successfully contributed to the development of the black housing association movement in the 1990s, we also:

  • Secured funding for the Empty Homes Agency to bring empty property back into housing use
  • Sxplored the concept of floating support, demonstrating its potential as a user-centred, cost-effective option that enabled people who need support to live independently

In 1998, our publication on housing and support for people with dementia led to a good practice guide produced in consultation with the Housing Corporation and Stirling University.

In the 2000s:

In 2000, we launched new initiatives focusing on the supporting people programme and the older homelessness programme in 2003.

  • We launched our older people's project, which resulted in a range of initiatives to improve housing for older people, including equity-based loans, rural caretakers and housing options services in 2006,
  • We continued to develop housing and support models for refugees, through groundbreaking projects like Accommodate, Communities R Us and Opening Doors, and used our practical experience to demonstrate the value of partnerships in delivering better housing and integration outcomes for refugees and to influence national, regional and local policy in 2008,
  • We launched a series of practical Collaborate worksheets for Supporting People providers, particularly smaller, specialist organisations, promoting the benefits of collaborative tendering for SP contracts in 2009,
  • We launched our Housing and Empowerment Network, challenging housing providers to create and nurture partnerships with local people and grassroots voluntary and community organisations.