Promoting Social Inclusion by Enabling Individuals and Developing Communities
[ Housing Project ]
Concept: To set up a local housing project that benefits Exeter by raising funds through a local fundraising campaign. This would enable the purchase and provision of affordable rented accommodation for those on low incomes and in need, in a way that develops a stream of additional accommodation in the city.
Need: There is a clear need to provide additional affordable accommodation in the city as a way of responding to the current housing crisis.
What’s Different? This model of housing will provide a flexible way of providing additional housing to that already planned by traditional means. It is hoped that houses will be purchased from monies donated, loaned and bequeathed, as well as perhaps some leased properties. In addition, local people will be encouraged to be ‘Sweat Donors’ offering their time and expertise to undertake gardening, decorating etc. to reduce maintenance costs and teach these skills to tenants.
The project will be able to purchase and lease property in the first instance but will have the flexibility to undertake other roles in the future, such as self-build projects and Section 106 Agreement developments.
Organisational Structure: ECI is looking to join forces with other local organisations to develop a housing project for Exeter. It is felt that with ECI’s local connections, track record and reputation, working with a local partner, a creative and fruitful partnership can be developed.
Client groups: Although the model of the housing project has the flexibility to provide accommodation for different client groups, there is a realisation that these groups have different support needs and therefore different financial and support demands. There is also a recognition that specific client groups will have to be targeted in the early days of the housing project to both launch the local campaign and to identify funding.
How it stacks up financially: Budgets along with a Business Plan are currently being developed. In the absence of Supporting People money, (which the housing project will hope to apply for in the longer-term, but due to a limited budget will be unlikely to get initially), the project will need to find other creative ways to develop funding streams and partnerships to develop the vital ‘support’ aspect of the project. There are a number of ways in which this could be looked at to enable the housing project’s budget to stack up. Two examples are:
- Bed & Breakfast – those currently in B&B cost the local authority approximately £140 per week (single people). This is appreciably more than the normal housing benefit levels, and would enable the funding of accommodation and support in property owned by the housing project. It would also provide medium term accommodation instead of the short-term nature of B&B.
- Move-on Accommodation – a number of different client groups in the city require move-on accommodation from emergency or short term provision, so reducing the current bed blocking and providing more appropriate housing. It is hoped that many of these client groups would come with support already provided by another organisation. This would mean that the accommodation could be provided through the housing project working in partnership with another organisation that can provide the support.
More Information:
This new approach will only work with local support. If you would like to
find out more and be part of something new, innovative and practical, please
contact: [ Laura Callaway ] Project Development Worker
