Increasing and Preserving Housing Supply (2008)

• Ali Forney Center (AFC)

  To enable AFC to move to the next level of development as the central provider of homelessness services for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth in New York City. To expand AFC’s long-term funding base, to support the agency’s expansion of its residential resources, and to establish an organisation-wide monitoring system. (Over three years)

• Bethesda Project

  To provide 79 units of affordable supportive housing for homeless people in the heart of Philadelphia’s thriving commercial district. Bethesda’s part of the development will offer 24 single rooms for homeless people with histories of serious mental illnesses and/or addiction, who need assistance to sustain their employment, recovery and self-sufficiency. The organisation aims to establish familial bonds with the homeless in the context of high-quality housing and supportive services. This project is being developed through a partnership with another Oak grantee, Project H.O.M.E. (Over two years)

• Community Voices Heard (CVH)

  To secure funding to preserve and improve the public housing stock managed by the New York City Housing Authority. CVH will develop the capacity of public housing residents to organise and lead the campaign, improve resident participation structures and stop the trend towards disinvestment in public housing by securing city, state and federal resources for preservation and improvement. CVH is a 25,000-strong membership organisation of low-income people, led and run by members. Its agenda includes welfare, job training, living-wage, housing, economic development. (Over two years)

• The Empty Homes Agency

  To increase the number of empty homes brought back into use by raising public awareness of the issue through the development of a new interactive website. The website will allow the public to report empty homes, and provide a direct link for information to reach the relevant local authority in the UK. The Empty Homes Agency is a London-based national charity that highlights the waste of empty homes and works with others to find sustainable solutions. (Over three years)

• Habitat for Humanity Northern Ireland (HFHNI)

  To provide a fund for affordable housing development, that is recovered when a housing project is completed, and can thus be applied to a series of developments, over a number of years. This will enable HFHNI to grow its development capacity from an average of 10 affordable homes a year to 25. HFHNI provides affordable home ownership opportunities for the “working poor”, assists in the physical regeneration of areas characterised by high levels of social and economic disadvantage and community conflict, and builds stronger and more hopeful communities.

• Homeless Link

  To reduce evictions and unplanned moves from the UK’s hostels and supported housing aimed at homeless people. To support detailed research to identify which factors lead to unplanned moves and to trial five approaches designed to reduce unplanned moves. To develop evidence-based solutions and disseminate these to commissioners, service providers and policy makers. To undertake a change programme to ensure good practice across the homelessness sector. Homeless Link is the national membership organisation for frontline homelessness agencies operating in England, and influences both policy concerned with homelessness and the quality of services. (Over three years)

• Picture the Homeless

  To build a campaign that results in an annual, city-wide count of vacant dwellings in New York City. To expand the membership and activities of its “Housing Not Warehousing Coalition” and to raise the profile of its campaign with the Mayor, City Council and residents. Picture the Homeless is a membership organisation which is led by homeless people who work to change negative laws and policies and challenge the root causes of homelessness.

• Women’s Community Revitalization Project (WCRP)

  To secure city and community commitment to create 300 units of affordable housing in Eastern North Philadelphia, a neighbourhood experiencing long-term shifts in the housing market that could displace low-income families. To create and gain city support for a land-use plan for city-owned land within the neighbourhood and to create a community land trust. WCRP is committed to social and economic equity for low-income women and their families. The organisation also develops housing and neighbourhood facilities; provides supportive services; and advocates for policy change. (Over three years)

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