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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.
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