Ujima Housing Association has drawn up a national expansion plan to help save smaller black and minority-ethnic associations from closure.
Ujima, which is based in London and manages nearly 4000 homes, is one of the country's leading BME associations.

It hopes to form partnerships with smaller associations across the country, beginning in the West Midlands. It has yet to agree a budget for the programme.

Chairman Adonis Daniel said the expansion programme could stop smaller BME associations having to close or merge with mainstream registered social landlords.

He added that the BME housing sector had in the past lacked a national, financially robust association to act as a champion for others. "We have a social responsibility to assist smaller, young, RSLs," he said.

We want to have a national presence and see ourselves doing that through providing advocacy and consultancy

Qadeer Kiani, Ujima

Ujima will focus on developing its care services rather than building homes. It has advertised for a care director whose main responsibility would be to form partnerships and alliances with smaller RSLs outside London.

Qadeer Kiani, Ujima's housing services director and deputy chief executive, said: "In the past, we have been seen as market leaders in providing care services for BME communities.

"We want to have a national presence and see ourselves doing that not necessarily through building more homes but through providing advocacy and consultancy to other organisations."

Source

Housing Today