Head Office: Northern Office: The Empty Homes Agency 195-197 Victoria Street London SW1E 5NE Phone: 020 7828 6288 Fax: 020 7828 7006 Email: info@emptyhomes.com Web: www.emptyhomes.com The Empty Homes Agency PO Box 3609 Barnsley S75 1WW Phone/Fax: 01226 390 093 Mobile: 07719 798 033 Case Study on the Latin American Housing Co-op Years ago, Luis Maya came to Britain from Colombia. One thing struck him about his new country, that there was almost no provision for Spanish speakers from Latin America, many of whom were refugees fleeing from persecution in their own country. Not being prepared to accept this state of affairs, Luis joined the Latin American Housing Co-op, based in Stockwell, South London. The Co-op offered to manage ten of Lambeth Council’s empty properties. This move helped the Co-op in two ways: it allowed them to house members of their community in need of housing, and with the management fee they could provide housing and other advice to their community. From a problem of an invisible minority, Luis and his Co-op members had found a way of using a wasted housing resource and of funding their services to their community. A visit to Luis’ offices will find a queue of people waiting for help and advice. Then disaster struck – Lambeth Council asked for their properties back. Suddenly all of the Co-op’s services looked like collapsing. Despite the impending Private Finance Initiative, the Co-op refused to go quietly and mobilised their community in defence of the Co-op. The Co-op pointed to Lambeth’s own housing strategy which included meeting the needs of the Latin American community. But how could this be done if the Co-op went under? Ultimately Luis’ campaigning paid off and Lambeth recognised the Co-op as one of their Black and Minority Ethnic Housing Association Partners. Suddenly from being on the outside, this small Co-op became an accepted player. Lambeth wanted their mainstream housing associations to provide 20 percent BME accommodation, and most of these RSLs were now keen to talk to Luis… How times change! The future for the Co-op is still uncertain, but under Luis’ leadership it has passion and ambition to help their marginalised community. Ends The co-op was managing 13 properties in a short life basis – the partnership was with South London Family Housing Association, currently they are managing 9 properties. Head Office: Northern Office: The Empty Homes Agency 195-197 Victoria Street London SW1E 5NE Phone: 020 7828 6288 Fax: 020 7828 7006 Email: info@emptyhomes.com Web: www.emptyhomes.com The Empty Homes Agency PO Box 3609 Barnsley S75 1WW Phone/Fax: 01226 390 093 Mobile: 07719 798 033