Over the centuries immigrants from all over Europe have settled in Soho - Huguenot, Jewish, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese people have made it their home. More recently we have been joined by Chinese and Bengali people among others. Many of these people are tenants of Soho Housing Association along with those who are indigenous to the area. They all contribute to a vibrant and highly valued local community.
 
The Association was set up in 1973 by people living in Soho to try to improve local housing conditions and to ensure that its existing homes were not destroyed by redevelopment. They hoped that by providing homes in the area at prices local residents could afford, the post-war trend of depopulation could be stemmed and the existing community retained and strengthened.
 
The founder members of Soho Housing Association were told they were attempting the impossible in trying to provide family housing in an inner-city area and that their plans were doomed to failure. Soho Housing Association is now a flourishing organisation with a sizeable development programme and the sceptics have been proven wrong.
 
The first properties were purchased by the Association in 1977 consisting of the terrace of listed houses in Great Pulteney Street, together with the site at the rear in Bridle Lane, now called John Broadwood House.
 
Since then the Association has purchased and improved several other blocks of flats to provide family homes, with some open space for the residents wherever possible, in Soho, Covent Garden, Westminster, Camden and Southwark. This is as well as developing Hostels for homeless people, housing for single people, elderly and disabled persons. Our largest project is Sandringham Flats in Charing Cross Road with 120 flats and 14 shops. We also have a sheltered housing scheme for the elderly in Soho with 19 flats.
 
In addition to developing and managing our own projects, SHA has also purchased and developed a number of schemes on behalf of other charities providing care services. Centrepoint manage our Berwick Street hostel, Salter’s City Foyer and the newly renovated hostel in Greek Street. This provides a total of 97 bedspaces to help young people realise their potential.
 
Altogether, we own 800 homes and we have 30 commercial tenants.
 
We receive grants from local councils and the Housing Corporation. A condition of the grants is that at least 50% of vacant flats are offered to people referred to us by the local councils.
 
As well as providing housing, the Association provides other amenities to improve residents’ living conditions such as roof gardens, children’s play areas, an under fives family centre, launderettes and other amenities lacking in the area.