Annual Report 2020-2021 Last year we consulted with and listened to tenants, staff and Hello! partners to develop our Corporate Plan. This sets out how we aim to improve lives by building homes and communities that enable After a year like no other, it is a privilege to new and exciting possibilities. once again welcome you to the ForHousing These themes are: annual report. Stephen Reuben Chair Homes Communities ...are the first building block on the journey to ...influence the wellbeing of people who live and a better life. Everyone deserves a safe, warm and work there. Everybody deserves to be part of comfortable place to call home. a thriving community where they can realise The COVID-19 pandemic has touched us in ways Person Centred - The pandemic highlighted their potential and contribute. we could never have imagined or planned for. inequalities in communities. Our Neighbourhoods We will come through this and together we team provided a personal response to address This Annual Report shows our progress against these themes in Year One. The partners we work are building back better and moving forwards. these challenges by giving emotional and practical with are listed on our website. support to tenants, particularly those self-isolating Our focus on improving lives and providing quality or living alone. homes and places that make more things possible for more people has never been clearer. Prosperous - Financial inequality became even more evident this year and our decision to fund Tenant and staff wellbeing have been at the Mustard Tree shops ensured communities had forefront of our minds and the launch of our affordable food and resources to make a home. Wellbeing Strategy is testament to this. Our Income Maximisation team supported tenants in financial hardship due to the pandemic. We also The Communities section of our Corporate Plan introduced Cash Chats financial support sessions highlights the achievements and social value we for people with money worries. have delivered with partners across seven areas. Healthy - This year shone a spotlight on everyone’s They are: mental and physical health. We offered support for Stable Homes - A stable home is the foundation people finding lockdown mentally challenging and for a better life and providing a stable home encouraged physical activity. This included balcony for people continued to be a priority. Our and doorstop social activities in supported housing involvement in the “Everyone In” emergency and online sports for children and young people. scheme also supported rough sleepers to get Connected - Communities pulling together was Contents off the streets during lockdown. one of the most positive outcomes of the year. Digitally Able - The pandemic has meant it is more With partners we provided venues for food banks, Introduction 02 delivered medication for people self-isolating important than ever for people to be able to get Community Outcomes Summary 04 online, as people have been learning and working and funded community-led projects. from home. We have helped from providing digital Homes 06 I’m proud of our response and do not devices to tenants to introducing virtual visiting - Sustainable 06 underestimate the challenges ahead. rooms at our extra care facilities. - Safe 12 I would also like to thank everyone at ForHousing - Green 16 Continually Learning - As our world changed, for their dedication, passion and professionalism so have in-demand skills. We continued to invest Communities 20 throughout the year. in online learning activities for children and - Stable Homes 20 young people, to enable them to achieve their I would also like to thank the many partners we - Continually Learning 26 potential. We also continued school construction Some names have been changed work with, listed on our website. I am confident - Digitally Able 32 throughout this document to protect the skills classes, virtually and in a COVID-secure that by really listening to what matters most - Person Centred 36 identities of tenants. Some photography environment. has been used for illustrative purposes and to tenants, together we will be able to make - Prosperous 42 some was taken pre-pandemic before social even more things possible for more people. - Healthy 52 distancing measures were put in place. - Connected 58 2 3 Community Stable Homes Continually Learning 17,679 151 52 312 Outcome social rent households live in an affordable, children and families school pupils took part children took part well-maintained and stable home. accessed learning and in construction training, in healthy, fun and training opportunities with 27 achieving a creative activities. Summary 521 or therapy sessions. qualification. (43%) lets went to people who were homeless or at risk of being homeless. 2020-2021 139 Healthy The following outcomes were homes provided emergency delivered together with partners: accommodation during lockdown. 344 4 tenants reduced community hubs key community activities delivered with isolation through set up as emergency 55 £5,444,726 of internal and external investment. doorstep and food points. balcony activities. 1,433 572 tenant fall Person Centred (60%) community assessments safety issues completed with successfully 8 support referrals. 341 31,304 resolved. social and private tenants welfare calls were made, sustained tenancies with 1,359 actions delivered. through tenancy support. Prosperous £3,591 510 a year, on average, saved people accessed work by tenants paying social or learning, with 56 rather than private rent. securing a job. Digitally Able Connected £454,692 £31,005 welfare benefits and reduction in fuel bills. grants brought in 12,000 39 11 £68,041 £64,487 2,519 for tenants. webchats enabled tenants have people supported ForHousing grants of external funds hours volunteered tenants to self- affordable internet to move their supported 122 secured for 25 by 73 tenants and serve and 837 virtual through their rent. business online. community and community activities. customers. lettings took place. tenant groups. 4 5 Investing in assets Sustainable We invested £12.3m to improve homes, replacing 1,793 components, such as heating, kitchens, roofs and doors. A further £7.8m was spent maintaining homes, with Outcome: Well designed, truly affordable 46,093 responsive repairs completed. As a result, 100% of homes continue to meet or exceed We believe that a decent, truly affordable and secure home to live in is critical for the journey to a better life. the Government’s Decent Homes Standard. Extending the supply and type of homes widens options for people to choose where they live, opening doors to new possibilities. This year we invested £20.1m in maintaining and improving existing homes and £39.1m developing new homes. Tenants reported 88.4% satisfaction (representing 999 of respondents) with their most recent repair, exceeding the 82% target. Target Satisfaction 82% Actual Satisfaction 88.4% We also worked with local authorities to complete 522 aids and adaptations, worth £180,557, to enable people to continue living independently in their existing home. Achievements Case study 522 adaptations, valued at £180,557, enabled tenants to live Carol’s story independently. Carol has a reduced physical and cognitive function outdoor spaces 16 which meant she was unable to get in the bath had investment of £51,610 due to restricted mobility. The use of movable to better use the space for tenants and residents equipment was considered an extra risk so, to enjoy. following an assessment by an Occupational Therapist (OT), a level access shower was installed. Carol can now easily use the level access shower and 176 new homes 100% of homes 10,191 (100%) £36,271 a further OT assessment confirmed her quality of life addressed a range continue to meet or emergency repairs were of rent credits assisted has significantly improved now she can independently of housing needs. exceed the Government’s completed within the businesses to sustain shop maintain her own personal care. Decent Homes Standard. 24 hours target. tenancies when they were unable to trade due to COVID-19 restrictions. 6 7 Environmental Case study improvements Our Neighbourhoods and Assets teams worked Preventing homelessness together to maintain the appearance and safety of areas where we have homes. This included: Three new build schemes were developed on unused garage sites in Salford to provide • Unused community gardens at Denecliff high rise shorter-term “entry level” homes for people (Stockbridge Village) and Russell Court (Little Hulton) at risk of homelessness. were tidied and grassed over making them low maintenance open spaces for residents to enjoy. The low rent for these furnished, smaller apartments includes electricity, water and Wi-Fi. This enables • Zinnia Court in Irlam had a secure patio area installed tenants to manage their tenancy and access the for drying clothes. benefits of being online, in a home which gives • Amblecote Gardens in Little Hulton had sensory raised a stable platform to a better life. beds installed for tenants to connect with nature and stimulate the five basic senses. • New higher specification external doors enhanced security at The Green (Fitton Hill) and The Spinney and Cremorne Hey (Stockbridge Village). We also regularly maintained 531 communal spaces through the grounds maintenance service. Case study Jackson Gardens Jackson Gardens is the first Extra Care scheme in room is fabulous, and my little garden is fabulous. I can Stockbridge Village, providing 64 apartments and walk, everything is local to me. I’ll still meet neighbours Development Programme 26 bungalows for tenants to maintain their health that I knew before, and then I’ll make new neighbours and wellbeing whilst living independently. and friends, which will be lovely.” We have invested £150.4m to deliver over 1,397 new This year, we invested £39.1m to Another said: homes since 2013. Across a range of tenures this has The spacious homes include high quality fittings and balconies or patio areas to enable easy access to outside extended the supply and type of homes to meet build or acquire 176 new homes, space.