3. Registered Social Landlords including Housing Associates and Co-operatives
Introduction
There are around 200 housing associations and housing co-operatives in Scotland registered with Communities Scotland, with local and national organisations providing a range of accommodation in Council areas. The names and addresses of housing associations and the client groups they cater for are available from both Communities Scotland and the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations on request or by accessing the SFHA web site at www.sfha.co.uk.
Registered housing associations are non-profit making friendly societies, with a few exceptions, run by professional staff, but controlled by voluntary management committees. Housing associations get grants from the Government's national housing agency - Communities Scotland (and in the future this may well be managed by local authorities) - towards the costs of building homes for rent or shared ownership. It is important to recognise that nowadays housing associations are the main providers of new and affordable housing opportunities for local people in housing need, whereas government policy has made it financially unattractive for Councils to build new homes.
Major funding changes for housing association sheltered and supported accommodation
Communities Scotland (and in the future possibly local authorities) provides grant funding to registered social landlords who provide additional support to enable tenants with varying needs to sustain tenancies and live as independently as possible in the community. All landlords in receipt of this funding, Special Needs Allowance Package (SNAP), will continue to receive it until 31 March 2003 assuming there is no change in the project supported.
Tenants in receipt of interim Housing Benefit for enhanced housing management services since August 1997 and tenants eligible for housing benefit and requiring additional housing support to enable tenants with varying needs to sustain tenancies and live as independently as possible in the community. All landlords in receipt of this funding, Special Needs Allowance Package (SNAP), will continue to receive it until 31 March 2003 assuming there is no change in the project supported.
Tenants in receipt of interim Housing Benefit or enhanced housing management services since August 1997 and tenants eligible for housing benefit and requiring additional housing support became eligible for Transitional Housing Benefit on 1 April 2000. The tenant should make application for this benefit to the Council. In April 2002, Supporting People Grant will be introduced to replace current funding sources. Councils will pay this grant and all existing services will be reviewed in the period between 2003 and 2006.
