CCH Conference Warwick University July 2013

CCH Conference Warwick University July 2013 Dr. Niall O’Keeffe Chief Executive

Overview Housing in Ireland – Challenges and opportunities NABCO – About Us Continuing Delivery Co-operative Living – Beyond Housing

IRELAND – Economic & Housing Crisis Unemployment: 13.6% (300,000 people) Social Housing Need: 98,000 households (up 75% on 2008) Vacant Houses: Between 25,000 and 300,000 empty houses 22,000 complete and vacant houses on ‘ghost estates’ alone A ‘mismatch’ of supply and demand

IRELAND – Housing Supply • State funding extremely constrained • 100% Capital Funding is over • Various new schemes: • Part funding (up to 30%) • Build-to-lease arrangements • Public funding down 84% 2008 – 2016 • New taxation • Private sector funding scarce and expensive

IRELAND – Housing Completions

NABCO – About us NABCO is Ireland’s national federation for the cooperative housing sector. Since 1973 co-operative housing has: • Supported the provision of approximately 5,000 homes across a mix of tenures, • Taken responsibility for the ongoing management of 1,800 homes available at affordable rents, • Promoted the development of locally affiliated co-operative societies across Ireland, • Provided wider community development opportunities such as Childcare and Community Services.

Affiliated Societies Seven affiliated societies Providing >1,800 homes Locally-owned, locally-managed Democratic member control Rent and shared equity

Rental co-operatives – examples

Continuing Delivery – Unsold Affordable

Continuing Delivery – Unfinished Developments

Refurbishment and renewal

Expanding our role – Co-operative Living • A vision for co-operation that goes beyond housing • The services our members ask for: • Childcare and Communty Services • Support for older people • Social care • Employment & Enterprise support • Using the resources we have on hand: • Local rooms and facilities • In-house (NABCO and members) knowledge and expertise • A co-operative approach to service delivery

Childcare and Community Services Currently four services for 200 children Low cost access for members but available to the wider community Training available for parents to become childcare professionals Childcare service times set to allow parents to work or attend training A distinctive brand of Co-operative Childcare – ‘Reggio Emilia approach’ A critical tool for building community

Co-operative Living – Training & Education • Board Roles and Responsibilities • Finance for non-experts • Training for trainers • Public Speaking • Organising meetings • Computer classes Working with other Co-operatives and organisations to develop programmes

Co-operative Living - Employment In partnership with the state training agency assisting apprentices who have been unable to complete their training Providing internship opportunities in our national office Setting up a system to give work to members in a fair and transparent way while ensuring cost effectiveness and quality.

Innovation in Delivery • Co-operation and partnership is in our history and our future: • The first developments worked with parishes, Local Authorities, and Credit Unions • Ready and willing to make new partnerships and find new approaches • Assist State and Local Councils in effective use of land banks • Creating opportunity for true mixed tenure communities • Engaging with private finance • Leveraging our assets • Building on our co-operative connections

In Conclusion – Our experiences to date Quality – Be The Best !!!! Think holistically – move beyond bricks and mortar Member-led – the needs of our communities must to be at the heart of all decisions Where possible support the membership to promote and drive the services Be patient and designate appropriate resources. To be effective do not try to provide all the services internally – seek expertise To be truly effective and sustainable Co-operative Living must be collaborative

Thank You Go raibh maith agaibh - Thank you

CCH Conference Warwick University July 2013