GET INVOLVED IN MIWALENI PRIMARY YOUR SCHOOL UPDATE WE TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE GREAT WE CATCH UP AS RENOVATIONS ORGANISATIONS WE WORK WITH - P5 GET UNDERWAY - P7 Apex Housing Association Issue 7 Spring 2012 Rathlin Island gets first social John McPeake - Chief Executive, NIHE; Noel McCurdy - Chair of Rathlin Island Development & Community Association; Nelson McCausland - Minister for Social Development; Brian Rowntree - Chairman, NIHE; homes for almost Marjorie Keenan - Chair of Apex; Gerry Kelly - Chief two decades Executive of Apex Apex is providing the first social ‘clachan’ form of development and houses to be built on Rathlin uses an appropriate vernacular style Island in 18 years. The 10 new of design. It is anticipated that the houses will more than ... The design and delivery houses will be complete by the double the social housing stock of high quality energy summer of 2013. BREAKING NEWS on the island and will provide “efficient social housing will Speaking at the launch of site high quality permanent homes protect the homes from the works, the Minister for Social for families on the housing wait- Development, Nelson McCausland Apex delivers 460 worst of the Atlantic ing list. These new homes will also said: “I am delighted to see the units during 2011/12 assist families to return and elements... construction of these new homes re-establish their roots on the get underway. The design and Nelson McCausland - Minister for Social Development for the voluntary island. delivery of high quality, energy Apex has enhanced the building make the homes around 44% more efficient social housing will protect housing movement fabric of the homes and greatly energy efficient than the current the homes from the worst of the increased air tightness, in tandem building regulation standards, and Atlantic elements and will in turn Of a total development pro- with the proposed Mechanical more sustainable in the longer help protect the tenants. Rathlin is gramme of 1,411 units started by Ventilation & Heat Recovery term. Northern Ireland’s only inhabited the voluntary housing movement technology, in recognition of The houses will be built by offshore island and is therefore a during 2011/12, Apex Housing the exposed island location. The Donaghmore Construction who are unique asset. These homes will help Association delivered 460 of these. thermal comfort of the homes will seeking to employ local people protect the future of the island and This equates to a third of the be designed to Level 4 of the Code where possible. The scheme which ensure that it remains a permanent programme and represents a total investment made by Apex of £60m. for Sustainable Homes, which will is located at Church Bay, adopts a CONTINUES PAGE 2 2 Apex Housing Association Observer | Spring 2012 First things first New development for Rathlin HIGHLIGHTS Apex to help provide good quality housing for island residents My Board members are very we are now seeing other years, but this advantage has 03 Benefit Changes pleased that Apex is building ten social housing projects, within disappeared with the increasing cost social houses on Rathlin Island to similarly disadvantaged communi- of building materials, higher rates The radical Government meet the current needs of the ties throughout Northern Ireland, on for private finance and falling reform of the benefits system island population which is now the margins of viability. Having com- grant rates. The net result of this and how it will effect you showing signs of growth after pleted feasibility work, we have iden- is that we must increasingly look for many decades of decline. tified a number of small housing economies of scale, and concentrate In May 2010, we first met the schemes in rural communities which our development efforts on deliver- Rathlin Development & Community are not viable without special finan- ing larger schemes in urban areas. Association. We are content that we cial assistance from the Department Over the past ten years we are have been able to keep our commit- to lift the scheme’s projected 30 year very proud of the fact that we have ment to help in achieving their goal cash flow out of deficit. built over sixty new replacement of having sufficient good quality On the development front, we have cottages in isolated locations in housing on the island for the significantly reduced our new build counties Londonderry, Tyrone and resident community. Indeed, we saw delivery costs over the past three Fermanagh. More recently we have many similarities between their provided small developments in aspirations and those of our villages such as Portballintrae, founding members when Apex was The Moy, Tempo, Ahoghill, Lisbellaw Sarah, John & Family first established in 1965 to address and Millisle. local housing issues in Derry City. Building houses in these smaller Although Apex has brought over settlements bring many challenges £350,000 of private funding to the and additional costs in terms of lack Community table, the Rathlin project only of infrastructure and difficult topog- 05 proceeded because the Department raphy. Government must now for Social Development provided take a similar approach to the additional grant assistance to meet Marjorie Rathlin Island scheme and be willing Keenan OBE the additional costs associated Chairman to assist with the additional costs with building houses on an offshore associated with building small island. With the cutbacks in schemes in rural communities public expenditure, however, throughout N. Ireland. Working in partnership with Vital Island scheme The ROOTS Project & Arthritis CONGRATULATIONS Care NI Apex Moneysense course presentation & Inside Apex 10 11 to four of our Strand Developments News Foyer residents Minister for Social Development - Nelson McCausland pictured with Apex Housing and Noel McCurdy. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ing on the island to meet the needs of Property Services Team residential community for genera- the current population - a vital factor Four young people from The Strand tions to come. I am pleased to play in the sustainability of the resident Foyer, Derry completed the six week my part in safeguarding the future of community.” Moneysense course and were Contact the Editor the island. These new homes will Noel McCurdy - Chair of the presented with their certificates on If you have any community news or bring new and returning residents Rathlin Development & Community 4th April. The course, delivered by events you would like the Apex which will contribute to the regener- Association said: “This new housing the Consumer Council on behalf of Observer to cover, please get in touch: ation of Rathlin going forward.” programme is a tremendous support Apex, was delivered as part of Apex's Email: [email protected] Marjorie Keenan - Apex Chair, for the sustainability of the Rathlin Financial Inclusion Strategy. added: “Apex is very pleased that community. Affordable housing is Telephone: 028 7130 4800 Participants enjoyed the course we have been able to assist the very limited here, and this vital which, through fun and interactive Fax: 028 7130 4801 Rathlin Development & Community scheme will provide opportunity for exercises, taught them about how to 10 Butcher Street Association in their efforts to ensure young islanders and new Rathlin make best use of their money by Londonderry BT48 6HL the provision of good quality hous- families to be a part of its future.” spending and borrowing wisely. Apex Housing Association Observer | Spring 2012 3 Advice The Welfare Reform Act received or Housing Executive tenant to swap Royal Assent in Britain on 8th Radical changes to with, and this should be approved by March 2012. A Northern Ireland their current landlord. We expect a version of the Welfare Reform Act rise in the number of applications for 2012 will be introduced into the the benefits system transfer from tenants after October Assembly before the summer. The 2013. The earlier that people Act will introduce a new welfare The most radical reform in a generation. prepare for the changes, the better benefit that will replace most for them. current welfare benefits and will Allowance and later the new Working people as well as Shared Accommodation for come into effect from October Universal Credit. non-working people may see their people under 35 2013 across the United Kingdom. Universal Credit housing benefit cut. Those in the private rented sector, The new benefit will be called Universal credit will replace means Children under 16 of the same under 35 years old will be ‘encour- Universal Credit. tested benefits and tax credits for gender are expected to share a bed- aged’ to share accommodation as In addition, the government will be working age people up to pension room and children under 10 are Housing Benefit will be cut for those introducing a benefit cap in April age from October 2013. expected to share regardless of gen- under 35 to the shared room rate. 2013 on the amount of benefit that a Benefits to be abolished are: der. This rule will not apply to Housing The cut in benefit will affect couple or single person can claim. Income Support Associations like Apex or to the The government’s proposal for (amongst others): Housing Executive. This means that Income based Jobseekers welfare reform and the introduction Separated parents with access to single people under the age of 35 in Allowance of Universal Credit, aims to children one bedroom Apex accommodation Income related Employment and encourage people back to work as Foster carers because foster chil- may be eligible for full housing bene- Support Allowance well as simplify the benefits system dren are not counted as part of the fit, but those in the same circum- and make it less costly to administer. Housing Benefit household for benefit purposes stances but occupying private rented Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Families with disabled children accommodation will not.