Rewarding social impact projects in housing and communities
The social and sustainability impact of approved housing bodies and local authorities is immeasurable. Various sectors and industries are currently working to embed ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) into their practice. However, AHBs and local authorities have been working with ESG principles at their core for many years.
As part of our upcoming Finance and Development Conference (16th & 17th October 2024 – Radisson Blu Hotel, Sligo), the ICSH will spotlight this work through a dedicated conference session that will showcase four initiatives led by approved housing bodies or local authorities in a Dragon’s Den style pitching session. The event , sponsored by AIB, will award the winning entry with a masterclass with the AIB Social Housing team and Goodbody Clearstream focused on measuring and enhancing the organisation and project’s sustainability practices.
Entries from AHBs and local authorities showcased initiatives that have taken a proactive and pioneering approach to improving the sustainability and well-being of the communities they serve addressing the following key areas.
- The provision of social or economic supports for an underserved community
- Initiatives that promote rights, participation and good governance
- Projects that focus on the development of assistive technologies/ IT solutions or support services that promote independent living.
- Solutions that produce low energy/high BER through design or retrofit
ICSH Social Impact Challenge 2024 Winner
Circle VHA and ALONE’s Housing with Support Pathfinder Project at Richmond Place Inchicore, Dublin 8has won the Irish Council for Social Housing Social Impact 2024 award at the ICSH Finance and Development Conference 2024,sponsored by AIB, on the 16th of October 2024 in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Sligo
Circle VHA and ALONE’s Richmond Place Inchicore Housing with Support Pathfinder Project
The aim of the Housing with Support Project is to develop a new model of housing for older people in Ireland where the key components (physical environment and care supports) are provided onsite, integrated into the community and are designed with older people at the centre. The Housing with Support model provides an alternative housing option for older people with support needs but who do not require nursing home/residential care. It allows older people to “right size” or move to homes that allow them to age in place with appropriate care and support services. Support is provided 24/7 by onsite staff with visiting care and support specific to the individual.
Three Shortlisted Entries
Tuath Housing and Kore Retrofit Energy Retrofit System
Circular Reno is an EU-funded project aiming to implement scalable biobased deep energy retrofit packages of facade and roof systems using biobased materials (e.g. straw, wood and biopolymer) while identifying an action plan to address housing and energy challenges. The project partners 4 EU social housing providers; Tuath Housing Association (Ireland), Vilogia (France), Wonion (Netherlands) and LEG (Germany), alongside construction/retrofit companies and facilitators. Tuath identified 10 older homes requiring deep retrofit works including insulation and heating upgrades for development by KORE Retrofit. Tuath additionally contributes to transnational working groups, assessing the baseline situation in Ireland and exploring barriers and opportunities.
Cork City Knocknaheeny Regeneration Programme
To date the SEEP programme (which has been developed in conjunction with University College Cork) has funded a wide range of projects across 10 themes: Family Support and Early Childhood Development, Community Safety, Education, Training and Lifelong Learning, Health, Youth and Sports, Environment, Balancing Communities, Social Cohesion and Capacity Building, Economic Development, and Transport and Connectivity. The ambition of SEEP, with its action based and multi-disciplinary approach is to outlive the regeneration programme, through a comprehensive strategy that positions the community-led projects to develop successfully into the future. Projects include: ‘musical neighbourhoods’ workshops, classes and concerts; an afterschool literacy programme; seed funding for an international book-gifting programme; education support for Traveller students; a Yellow Flag diversity programme; and the Kabin community project, running weekly courses/workshops in music, for young people, with an inclusive ethos, out of which has emerged the Grammy longlisted viral rap ‘The Spark’.
Clúid Housing’s Biodiversity Plan
Developing and incorporating a biodiversity plan for a large housing body. To identify, and action, how best to enhance and protect biodiversity throughout our organisation, to mitigate the impacts of climate change on our organisation’s assets and to align with national/ EU environmental and biodiversity objectives. Clúid Housing’s Biodiversity Plan is a multifaceted AHB project that seeks to shape the environmental impact of not only its own housing operations, but also those of Clúid’s contractors, partners, suppliers and residents.
