New housing coalition to improve understanding of problems in South East
09/03/09
Three key housing organisations have come together to form the South East Housing Coalition, providing a united voice for housing in regional economic planning.
CIH South East, Shelter and the National Housing Federation (NHF) will pool their extensive regional expertise, research and resources to provide more co-ordinated engagement with regional bodies in the South East.
The new coalition will see the three organisations provide an authoritative housing information resource for regional decision makers, across issues that include housing delivery and the role of housing in the economy.
The new coalition was launched on 28 January at the CIH housing reception at the House of Commons, where regional MPs, councillors and housing leaders had the chance to discuss the housing challenges facing the South East in the current economic climate.
Graham Maunders, Chair of CIH South East, said, 'This new coalition between CIH, NHF and Shelter in the South East provides a positive example of partnership working across the sector in the current difficult times and will help us tackle some of the challenges ahead.'
Simon Nunn, Head of South region for the National Housing Federation, said, 'This coalition is an opportunity for the NHF, CIH and Shelter to improve co-ordination of our activities in the South East. The challenging economic climate and recent changes in regional decision making and planning mean that now more than ever the champions of affordable housing in the South East need to work together.'
Karen Stalbow, Senior Regional Campaign Officer at Shelter, added, 'While each organisation already effectively represents its constituent base, this coalition enables Shelter, NHF and CIH to be an authoritative single regional resource on key areas of common ground.'