Page 7 - NEHA Annual Report 2023

In the early 1990s, a group of friends began discussing the issue of housing and the difficulties those on low incomes faced in securing an affordable home. Many more discussions followed along with the growing realisation that perhaps they could do something to help. The extraordinary outcome of their efforts was the incorporation of North & East Housing Association in January 1993. 30 years later NEHA provides 745 homes in 27 locations across 12 local authority areas.
During those three decades, we have grown deep roots with our tenants, families, and communities. As they have grown, so have we, changing and developing way beyond the expectations of the early board members. But the values instilled in the early day of the organisation of being tenant- centred, transparently governed and innovative remain and still hold true today.
In the early years, the association’s work was carried out by the volunteer board of directors with the first staff employed in 2004. However, the board quickly realised that to continue to grow it would be necessary to move from a volunteer-run to a professional management team-run organisation.
In 2014 the board appointed a chief executive and the appointment of a senior management team soon followed.
Early Board members of North & East
Since its inception, NEHA has grown steadily and prudently, developing its portfolio of homes, and managing and maintaining them to the highest standards. NEHA plans to fund future growth in new homes using the government-backed Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS) and Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) supported by loans from the Housing Finance Agency (HFA) and Credit Union vehicles and other private lenders.
In recent years, the provision of housing has come under even closer scrutiny from key stakeholders to deliver secure, safe and high-quality housing
in the long-term. NEHA was an early adopter
of the Voluntary Housing Code and continued this proactive approach with the appointment
of a dedicated compliance officer who oversees regular reviews of the codes of both the Charities Regulator and the statutory Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority (AHBRA).
Our aim has always been for our tenants to live in homes and communities they can be proud of, and this has always been a core pillar of our strategy regardless of the changing external environment. We remain grateful to our current and former board, staff, tenants, and partners for helping us to realise this vision.
OUR STORY
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