Housing associations pump £69m into West Midlands

MORE than £69m of investment has been pumped into the West Midlands by housing associations, a new study has shown.

Building Futures, published by the National Housing Federation, shows the investment benefited more than 1.3m people.

The funding is part of an overall £0.5bn investment made by housing associations across the UK during 2010/11.

In the West Midlands, the various associations pumped £8.5m into job creation projects, while £7.6m was invested in skills development for more than 65,000 people.

Almost £16m (£15.9m) was invested in health and wellbeing projects, with more than £6.4m used to develop schemes tackling poverty and social exclusion.

More than £22m was spent on property development initiatives, with £8.5m used to develop safer communities.

Gemma Duggan, West Midlands lead manager for the National Housing Federation, which represents housing associations in England, said: “Housing associations across the West Midlands are model social enterprises, ploughing any extra cash they make straight back into the communities they serve to build futures and give local people hand-ups not handouts.

“With rising numbers of young people out of education or training, many unable to find work and social exclusion increasing across the West Midlands and the rest of the country, the investment of housing associations in local communities is more critical than ever.

“Every year our members help millions of people by giving them the support to change their lives forever. They get people back to work with apprenticeships and skills training, encourage them to play an active role in their community and create places where they want to live.”

The report also looks at how England’s housing associations spent millions of their own money delivering vital local health services, helping people lead healthier lifestyles and enabling older and disabled people to live dignified, independent lives.

“Successful partnership working is the key to making a real difference. Housing associations work together with local councils, charities and health agencies. For every £2 of their own money, housing associations attract a further £1 of investment in community services from other organisations,” added Ms Duggan.