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Harrow

Homes in Mind

May 17, 2020

Homes in Mind aims to provide transitional housing for people with mental health issues before or after they enter institutions.

The concept has been developed by the local mental health charity Mind in Harrow, and empowers people with experience of mental health issues in defining mutually supportive housing. It aims to support people to live a healthier and more active life; promoting independence, inclusion and wellbeing; giving people the support they need to be as independent as they choose. Critically, in enabling people with mental health problems to live independently, the scheme will help prevent mental health deterioration. This will impact on homelessness, reduce the need for step-up supported accommodation and reduce demand for inpatient stays.

Feasibility work has explored the provision of small schemes across various council owned sites, and there is approval to focus on two infill sites. The project is now moving towards a planning application.

How we’re helping
We have worked to define the co-production and community led nature of the project and helped to incorporate a suitable organisational form, which ensures the intended residents are part of the governance of the organisation.
We provided funding and advice to refine the designs, site capacity, and viability modelling with a team of consultants, and are continuing to provide advice to the Homes in Mind board on development and partnership options with potential Registered Providers.

 Visit their website

Cohousing Harrow

June 27, 2019

A group of families and individuals looking to build a supportive, mixed tenure cohousing community in Harrow.

They have been meeting regularly to establish their shared objectives and have a desire for a scheme of 20-25 homes. They have been researching different incorporation options, including Mutual Home Ownership by attending training and workshops.

How we’re helping
We have held workshops to clarify their membership and prioritise their objectives and have held seminar/training sessions to look at outline schemes, indicative costs, and the financial capacity of the group. We are now beginning to support a more systematic search for sites.

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Zahra Housing Co-op

October 6, 2018

Zahra are a fully mutual housing co-op looking to build affordable homes suitable for multi-generational living. Several generations living together can bring many social benefits including help with childcare as well as health and wellbeing benefits for older relatives.

As private renters, they have found most rented properties on the market unsuitable for larger families and are also looking for stability and security of tenure. The homes will be for long term submarket rent and their affordability will be protected in perpetuity by the cooperative structure. The co-op will be responsible for the construction, maintenance, finance and security of the homes.

Zahra attended several workshops held by Harrow Council in 2017, registered the co-op and received a small grant from the council to explore community led housing on small sites in the borough.

How we’re helping
We have been working to clarify options and their implications and helping Zahra commission financial modelling and capacity studies on for a small redundant garage site. We helped pull this together into a business plan clarifying governance. This was well received by the council, who recently gained cabinet approval for the principle of selling a number of sites for CLH. Zahra have had an early planning pre-application meeting, and we are providing guidance in refining the scheme with further detail.

 
Read their blog on inter-generational living

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