Empowerment to the PeopleInvestigating the social and economic impact of communities

taking control within Community-Led Housing

Natasha Williams

University of BirminghamSupervisors: Rick Joseph and

David Mullins

Outline

• Localism agenda• Overview of the Housing Cooperative Sector• European Comparatives• Co-operatives & Mutual Housing – Differences• The Community Gateway Model • Research Question(s)• Methodology

Localism Agenda• Devolving service delivery and governance from government to

local communities

• “Too much has been imposed from above, when experience shows that success depends on communities themselves having the power and taking the responsibility.

• It’s no good officials in Whitehall or even the Town Hall telling people what is needed in their street.”

• …. everyone has a stake based on equal rights and where they pay their dues by exercising responsibility in return, and where local communities shape their own futures.

Overview of the Sector

The co-operative housing sector is small – just 0.6% of total housing stock of 16 million homes

– 836 co-operative and mutual housing organisations– Managing over 169,000 homes– 92,000 (54%) owned by co-operative/mutuals– 77,000 (46%) managed by tenants– 62% registered with UK housing regulators– 91% in England, 5% in Scotland, 3% in Wales– 54% in London (71% of TMOs) – rest mainly in other urban areas– 4 Community Gateway Housing Associations – Preston, London, Watford and

Braintree, Essex

European ComparativesIn Turkey: 25% of the total housing stock with 1,408,603 units

In Sweden: 18% of the total housing stock with 750,000 units

In Norway: 15% of the total housing stock with 320,000 units

In Germany: 10% of the total rental housing stock with 2,200,000 units

In Austria: 8% of the total housing stock with 334,000 units

In Portugal: 1/3 of the social housing portfolio with 180,000 units

Co-operatives & Mutual Housing - Differences

• Government funded ownership housing co-operatives – members & tenants own, manage and democratically control their housing

• Tenant Management – Tenants of local authority or housing associations take responsibility for the democratic management features of the delivery of housing services – Right to Manage

The Community Gateway Model

• The Community Gateway Association is a type of not-for-profit organisation that can be used to manage council housing or take ownership of it as a “registered social landlord”.

• Developed through the Co-operative Movement

• Support from Government and financial organisations who lend to housing associations

Key Features• Stock transferred estates (LSVT)• Mutual housing • Own assets collectively• Governance – Tenants make up majority of management board• Led by residents for residents

Key objective:‘Promote community empowerment, community control and community ownership’

Why Empower?

• Sense of community• Contact theory – More positive contact that

people experience with other groups the more tolerant of difference and willing to work together

• Achieved through learning and collective organising

• Require a redistribution of power – culture shift

Research Question(s)

• How can communities improve their deprivation levels by through resident-led initiatives within housing cooperatives and mutual housing.

• Investigate– Approach to localism– Types and significance of social capital– Umbrella organisations/intermediaries/ institutional

support structures– How residents are empowered

Methodology

• Institutional focus – Hybrid organisations• Literature Review• Policy analysis• Case studies focusing Community Gateways • Mixed methods

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

References• CCMH (2009) Bringing Democracy Home• Czischke, D., Gruis, V and Mullins, D. (2012) Conceptualising Social

Enterprise in Housing Organisations, Housing Studies 27:4, 418 – 437

• Lawson, L and Kearns, A (2010) ‘Community Empowerment’ in the Context of the Glasgow Housing Stock Transfer

• McKee, K (2009). The ‘Responsible’ Tenant and the Problem of Apathy. Social Policy and Society, 8:01 pp 25-36

• Olsson, J and Hysing, E (2012). Theorizing Inside Activism: Understanding Policy Making and Policy Change from Below, Planning Theory and Practice, 13:2, 257-273

• Sacranie, H. (2012) Hybridity Enhacted in a Large English Housing Association: A tale of Strategy, Culture and Community Investment, Housing Studies, 27:4, 533-552