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Latin American Housing Co-op
Origins
Latin American Housing Co-op, based in Stockwell South London, was established in 1997 to provide accommodation for refugees, often fleeing persecution from their home countries in Latin America.
The Co-op approached Lambeth Council and was offered some of its empty properties, which allowed them to house members of their community in need of housing and also to provide them with information and advice. .
This resulted in the Co-op managing ten of Lambeth Council’s empty properties, but then disaster struck when Lambeth asked for the properties to be returned. It looked like all the Co-op’s services might collapse but they were able to point to Lambeth’s own housing strategy which included meeting the needs of the Latin American community. They challenged Lambeth about how this could be achieved if the Co-op went under and eventually the Council agreed to recognise it as one of their black and minority ethnic housing association partners.
Properties/Staff
The Co-op is run by a one full time worker and a Management Committee, which is elected the AGM
They have four permanent properties which they manage on behalf of London & Quadrant Housing Trust, another eight privately owned short term lets via Servite Housing and five properties owned by Lambeth Council which they manage via South London Family Housing Association.
Renovation
The Co-op uses money received from the rents to do up the properties and co-op members are often involved in working on their own homes before moving in. .
Community
The Co-op provides an advice and information Help Centre from its offices for the Spanish speaking community in South London.
Funding
The organisation is currently under funded and needs to secure some more income from grants to supplement its income from the rents on properties that it receives
Contact Details:
Tel: 0207 207 1500
No website
