Self help housing charity enters new PHASE

The South London charity formerly known as Advocates for the Homeless has relaunched as ‘PHASES’ (People, Housing and Social Enterprise Scheme). Over the past four years it has concentrated on developing construction training projects linked to empty property. Project manager Glenn Heaton said: “The change of name better reflects what we are about and the fact that we now help a wide range of marginalised people.” The charity’s most recent renovation, in Peckham, will feature on the BBC series ‘Britain’s Empty Homes’ in early 2011.

Read more about PHASES.

HCA debate on Empty Property

The Homes and Communities agency is hosting a debate on empty property on their Showcase website. The debate ‘How  do we maximise the use of empty homes?’ runs from 12th July – 30th and aims: “to address key challenges that local authorities face, highlight innovative practice and generate practical solutions to help the sector bring more empty homes back into use”. The Showcase website features a series of films from housing experts – including Canopy Co-ordinator, Steve Hoey – designed to spark debate around the issues involved in bringing empty homes back into use.