‘Waterford City Council and Homeless project in Dun Laoghaire scoop top Community Housing Awards’
Waterford City Council and Crosscare, a voluntary organisation working in partnership with Dun Laoghaire – Rathdown County Council were both Joint winners of the National Community Housing Awards sponsored by Eagle Star Insurances at the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) Biennial Social Housing Conference held in Wexford recently. Over 350 delegates from local authorities and non-profit housing associations attended the Conference and Community Housing Awards to witness the events.
The Community Housing Awards were established by the Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) in 2003 to recognise excellence in good design and housing management and strong links with the local community for local authorities, housing associations and co-operatives.
Submissions for the Awards in 2007 included a wide range of entries from local authorities and housing associations throughout the country who provided new social housing projects between 2005 and 2007. ‘These housing projects submitted for the Awards included housing projects for families, older people, the homeless and people with disabilities living in both urban and rural areas and which were very much developed as part of local communities’ reported Donal McManus, Executive Director, of the ICSH.
The ICSH/Eagle Star Community Housing Award winners comprised Waterford City Council for a mixed housing project for families, older people and single people at Mount Sion Crescent, Waterford City and a new housing project managed by Crosscare, a voluntary organisation working with the homeless, and developed by Dun Laoghaire – Rathdown County Council. This project which is in the Centre of Dun Laoghaire ensures that formerly homeless people can reintegrate into society.
In addition, four commendations were presented at the Community Housing Awards to Clúid Housing Association for a project in Pelletstown in Dublin; Dublin City Council for a newly developed project for older people at Memorial Court, South Circular Road; a refurbishment scheme in Blackpool in Cork City developed and managed by Respond! Housing Association; and an apartment development as part of a mixed tenure housing development by Túath Housing in Hanover Quay in the Dublin Docklands.
The presentations to all of the Community Housing Award winners were undertaken by George Lawlor the Mayor of Wexford City Council with Des Dowling the Assistant Secretary of the Housing Division in the Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government.
Media Notes.
- The Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) is the national social housing federation and represents 300 members known as housing associations
- Social Housing comprises housing and related activities provided by local authorities, housing associations and co-operatives. Social housing comprises about 5-7% of total housing output per year.
- The Irish Council for Social Housing (ICSH) established the Community Housing Awards sponsored by Eagle Star Insurances
- The ICSH is a Social Partner and was part of the negotiations under the last National Social Partnership Agreement-Towards 2016.