- What is a Housing Association?
- Challenges facing Housing Associations
- Achievments by Housing Associations
- Complaints about Registered Housing Associations
- The modern Social Housing Movement
- The Team at NIFHA
The modern Social Housing Movement
In 1972 the responsibility for providing and managing public housing was taken from the local authorities and given to the newly formed Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE). The enormity of the task facing the NIHE was daunting. The then Minister of the Environment, Don Concannon, together with Fred Tughan of Bangor Provident Trust, recognised that the potential of voluntary housing providers, who were playing a very positive role in Britain, could be harnessed in Northern Ireland.
In 1974 a special housing conference was convened at Corrymeela to discuss the housing situation in Northern Ireland. This was to lay the foundation for the reinvigoration of the Voluntary Housing Movement. A subsequent meeting was held in July 1975 at which a NI Committee of the National Federation of Housing Associations was elected. This effectively provided NI communities with the opportunity to become more involved in housing matters.
By the end of October 1975 the movement had taken significant steps and employed a number of key staff. They were charged with the responsibility for heading up the newly formed Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations (NIFHA).
The Federation's priority at that time was to represent and give practical assistance to the numerous housing associations being formed. This remains a significant role for NIFHA as it grows and develops its services for Members.
In 1976 the Housing Order gave registered housing associations a new legal base as well as much needed funding. This allowed plans to be laid, sites to be purchased, architects and builders to be hired and construction to be started.
Since then hundreds of new homes have been developed and opened. The NIHE's building programme was phased out from 1996 and responsibility for building new social rented housing was transferred to housing associations. By 1999/2000 NIHE was building fewer than 100 units and today builds none. Meanwhile, housing associations are building on average over 1,000 units per year.
As well as providing housing for rent, the housing association movement provides opportunities for low-cost home ownership primarily through the equity sharing scheme offered by the NI Co-ownership Housing Association (NICHA). To date 19,000+ households have been assisted by NICHA to purchase the homes of their choice through shared ownership and some 15,000+ now own all the equity in their homes.
Today the voluntary housing movement in Northern Ireland owns and manages over 30,000 rental units. This accommodation together with Co-ownership has gone a long way in addressing the social housing need across all communities living in NI.
The modern Housing Association Movement has been successful in rising to the variety of challenges it has been set. Indeed, it has surpassed many of its own high expectations. Today, Housing Associations play a pivotal role in managing the social housing sector throughout Northern Ireland developing and building all the new social housing here - general purpose, sheltered and supported.
How can you help?
If you would like to find out more about how you might become involved then click here for a link to the section on Voluntary Board Membership.
