Ayrshire Housing has enjoyed another successful albeit challenging year.
At its AGM last night, its Chair Paul Torrance said ”It’s fifteen years since we set up as South Ayrshire Homes and ten since the merger with Carrick Housing Association. We now have 1,500 properties and an excellent reputation for the services to our tenants and engagement with the community”.
“Welfare reform, declining living standards and less grant for new building are putting pressure on every housing association. The Board is working hard to address these challenges. I’m pleased to say that we are doing this from a position of strength in terms of our finances, our committed staff and the positive links with many other organisations.”
“Welfare reform and the threat it poses to the wellbeing of many of our tenants is a real concern to us. Many of our working tenants are seeing their incomes fall as costs rise. In response, we’ve recruited a money advice officer to help our tenants get the benefits they are entitled to and generally to provide advice on budgeting. Also working in partnership with other Ayrshire landlords, we recently helped to set up a project with the 1st Alliance Credit Union. We hope this will benefit many of our tenants.”
“There were some positives for housing in John Swinney’s budget announcement this afternoon. The increase in new build grant is welcome but it is still not sufficient for us to return to large scale housebuilding without unjustifiable increases in rents or service cuts.”
At the AGM, the result of the ballot for a tenant place on the Board was announced. Paul was delighted to welcome back Pearl Boyd, the Board’s longest serving member. The postal ballot was organised by the Electoral Reform Society with each candidate setting out their stall with a 50 word statement.
You can see our annual accounts and members report here.