‘2009 social housing ‘OSCARS’ launched by housing federation to recognise excellence in building sustainable communities’
The third Biennial Community Housing awards organised by the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH), the national social housing federation- has been launched today (26th March).
for local authorities and housing associations who have completed new social housing projects between 2007 and 2009 and are now fully occupied.
‘The aim of the Community Housing Awards is to promote high quality designs which link both housing management and community development to the built environment and to showcase this’, Donal McManus, Executive Director of the ICSH, indicated at the launch. The quality of new social housing developments whether for families, older people, the homeless and people with disabilities has been of a very high standard in recent years. Social housing has benefited from a significant investment of Government funding to housing associations and local authorities. Over 7000 new social rented homes were built in 2008 alone. There were in the last assessment in 2008 over 56,000 households on waiting lists for social housing.
The agenda has changed in recent years with Government policy now focusing on creating sustainable communities with housing associations and local authorities to the forefront of this policy. Many of the newly completed social housing projects have had a significant multiplier affect on local communities and incorporate consideration of community requirements such as health care supports. ‘The quality of social housing lead developments has been overlooked in recent years which is especially surprising when you bear in mind the high calibre of design input that is involved in such projects, Mr. McManus concluded.
The ICSH Community Housing Awards supported by Zurich Insurance were initiated in 2003 to recognise excellence of social housing providers such as local authorities and housing associations in creating sustainable communities. Many of the entries in the Community Housing Award have subsequently went on to be recognised in other national competitions.
Ends
For further information contact Donal McManus on 01 6618334.
Media Notes:
- The Irish Council for Social Housing is the National Federation of social housing organisations with over 300 housing associations affiliated nationwide.
- Housing associations now provide over 20,000 homes for families, elderly, homeless people and people with disabilities. Local authorities provide over 115,000 social rented units.
- Housing associations build one in four of all new social rented housing.
- The Irish Council for Social Housing is a member of the Community and Voluntary Pillar of Social Partnership.
