RUSS School of Community-led Housing, in partnership with the New Economics Foundation presents:
How to organise a community housing project
The course takes place across three evenings: Tuesday 9 January, Tuesday 16 January, and Tuesday 23 January 2018
Time: 6.30-9pm
Venue: New Economics Foundation, 10 Salamanca Place, London, SE1 7HB
Cost: £50 full price, £40 concessions (RUSS members, students, unwaged)
Community-led housing is a way for local communities to address their housing needs by producing their own decent and affordable homes. It is increasingly seen as a viable alternative for those whose housing needs are not met by the mainstream housing market. But how can communities and individuals access community-led housing? How do you set up and maintain a group, find land, organise finance and negotiate with local authorities?
Over three evenings tutors and participants will discuss and work through exercises on key elements of community-led housing including:
- Creating a group – finding people who share your vision
- Organising – networking and building your membership
- Land – where to find it?
- Local authorities – how to work with them
- Procurement and competitive dialogue
- Finance – where is the money?
- Building a professional team
- Allocations – deciding who lives in the homes
- Co-design – designing your homes together
- Ongoing networking
This interactive workshop-style programme draws from the experience of the Rural Urban Synthesis Society (RUSS) – a Community Land Trust at the forefront of a community-led housing revolution in the UK. RUSS will share the lessons learned over the past 5 years developing its Church Grove Project in Lewisham, south London with aspiring individuals, community groups, students and housing practitioners.
