The social housing campaign to raise funds for victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami is a third of the way towards its £1m target.

The Villages of Hope appeal, launched by Sadeh Lok Housing Group, the Federation of Black Housing Organisations, the Chartered Institute of Housing, charity Homeless International and the National Housing Federation, has raised £350,000 so far.

Homeless International will pass the funds to charities in the regions struck by the tsunami. Money could also go to towns and villages hit by the earthquake last Monday, which killed at least 1000 people and left 20,000 homeless on the island of Nias off the coast of Sumatra.

Becky Telford, UK activities coordinator of Homeless International, said some of the money could go to the area if the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights, one of its partner charities, had links there.

Meanwhile, five Merseyside councils are to send staff to a Sri Lankan region devastated by the tsunami.

The team will be led by Knowsley council and will include staff from Sefton, Liverpool, Wirral and St Helens.

The delegation will leave for Galle in the next fortnight.

Staff with expertise in waste, environmental health and management are expected to go.

Homeless International chair Bill Payne said: “We are delighted by the generosity of our partners.” He stressed that the project, which will last for four years, will concentrate on rebuilding communities rather than simply providing temporary accommodation.

Source

Housing Today