Phoenix Housing Co-operative – London

Phoenix was established in 1980 in the east end of London to provide short life accommodation in shared supportive communities to single people on low incomes who were in housing need. Phoenix currently operates across Tower Hamlets and Hackney with over 250 members living in short life and Co-op owned properties. Phoenix is a fully mutual housing co-operative as well as being a registered provider of social housing and regulated by the Tenant Services Authority and Homes and Communities Agency. Phoenix continues to work in partnership with Newlon, Poplar HARCA, Peabody Trust and Gateway Community HA in order to ensure that the Co-op can meet local demand for affordable housing.  Demand for Co-op housing continues to exceed supply and Phoenix operates with a waiting list of on average 40 people. 

Phoenix employs a core staff team of Co-op Manager, Finance Officer, Maintenance Officer and Development Manager who supported by the dedication of its members who volunteer their time and skills  in the office. Phoenix is a member-led organisation and is governed by the decision making of our Management Committee and Development Committee as well as the bi-annual General Meetings. Phoenix has an excellent track record of managing short, medium and long life property as well as continuing to offer all of its members a responsive, efficient and personalised housing management service.

As part of Phoenix’s commitment to making the best use of available housing options for our members we are currently involved in a Community Land Trust bid with London Citizens as well as developing our Housing Plus approach.

With Housing Plus, Phoenix is able to renovate empty properties using a volunteer workforce who receive on-site training, work experience and support to find employment once the renovation is complete. Based upon the success of the 2009 Sumner House renovation, Phoenix was able to approach the Tudor Trust and has subsequently secured three years funding in order to develop Housing Plus. We are now actively fundraising in order to secure the employment of a Housing Plus Site Manager and Volunteer Co-ordinator.

 
Housing Plus began when Phoenix was approached by Poplar HARCA housing association and offered a lease on five ground floor flats which had been declared ‘long term management voids’ as a result of chronic rising damp. Beginning work in May 2009, Phoenix worked with a team of 30 Co-op member volunteers to bring the  flats back into use at a cost of just £6,250 per property. This cost is significantly less than the quote of £30,000 per flat that Poplar HARCA had received for the works.  

When Phoenix began work on the properties on the ground floor of a 1929 brick built mansion block they were without kitchens, bathrooms, and heating. Using recycled, donated and non-toxic green material, work began. A new injection DPC system (damp course) has been completed including re-plastering and decoration. Kitchens, bath­rooms and heating have been reinstated. All of the work was fully registered with the Health and Safety Executive and supervised by a qualified Site Manager.

Two volunteers describe their experience of working on the projects: “I have become empowered. Learning skills like rendering and plastering has added to my skillset”, says Ray Clarke (pictured). John Walker agrees: “It’s hard to express all the rewards you get from working on this project!! Volunteers who have given their time usually spend much more than they originally volunteer, which goes to show the tangible benefits members get educationally, socially and, dare I say it, spiritually.” Three volunteers have already secured employment: one as a general handyman in a large hotel, another as a self-employed plasterer and another as a bathroom renovation contractor. 

 Ray hard at work   

Phoenix are currently involved in lease negotiations around a block of studio flats which require renovation through our Housing Plus approach.For more information about Housing Plus and the work of Phoenix Housing Co-op please email Carlita McKnight, Housing Plus Development Manager at cmcknight@phoenixhousing.co.uk or visit www.phoenixhousingcoop.org