Notes for Media
Vital information on what Housing Associations do:
- A housing association is a voluntary organisation dedicated to helping people obtain decent, affordable accommodation which meets their needs
- There are 33 registered1 Housing Associations in NI, all of which are members of NIFHA. A further 7 non-registered2 are members of NIFHA as well
- Housing Associations manage over 30,000 units of accommodation. This equates to a quarter all social housing in NI
- Housing Associations provide accommodation for general needs and supported tenants
- Since 1998 Housing Associations have provided virtually of all new social housing in NI
- Since 1991/92, 5,800 additional homes were provided through private finance from Housing Association - DSD.
- In financial year 09/10 housing associations achieved 1,838 starts.
- Housing Associations take out private loans from a bank, or other financial institution, to add to the Housing Association Grant (HAG) provided by DSD, in order to develop social housing in NI. Loans must be paid back and this is done so though the rental income.
- Collectively, Housing Associations have taken out over £343.7million of private finance to assist with social house building since 1991
- Since Cosy Homes was launched in October 03 over £1.7million has been allococated to 23 registered Housing Associations to undertake heating replacements and upgrade energy efficiency measures in 1,700 properties. This represents carbon savings of 48,495 tonnes over the lifetime of the meaures
- 21,000 households in NI have been assisted with purchasing their own homes through co-ownership. In the financial year 09/10 Co-ownership had 500 in contract to purchase and 187 staircasing cases.
For further information or to discuss any of these points please contact the NI Federation of Housing Associations on 028 9023 0446 or email media@nifha.org.
1 The term registered housing association refers to those housing associations operating under DSD regulation. Only they are eligible to receive a Housing Association Grant.
2 NIFHA has housing associations members which are not registered with DSD for the purpose of receiving a Housing Association Grant. They are: Bangor Provident, Glenall, Habitat for Humanity, Intercomm Enterprises, The Abbeyfield Belfast Society, Threshold and Ulster Provident.
