The Housing Story - More than just a place to live

Based on a presentation at Key's 25th Anniversary celebration by Elspeth Mann, Key's Head of Housing Services.

The story of how Key's housing provision has grown and changed over the years has 3 themes:

25 years ago the idea of people with learning disabilities living in housing with their own tenancies seemed far fetched. If people did not stay with their family, the options were hospital or one of the very few local authority hostels that existed.

Into this rather depressing situation of lack of choice, the possibility of housing, tenancy rights and an opportunity to be part of a local community was quite new, if not revolutionary.

Key's first housing came in 1982, and was a tenement in Garscube Road in Maryhill in Glasgow. Everyone had their own tenancy as well as support.

The first new build housing developments were started in 1982 as well, and by 1984 the Association had completed housing in Glasgow, Cumbernauld, Stenhousemuir, Dumfries and Stranraer.

These early developments were all different in size and design. They were all small scale, integrated with local housing and had a mixture of housing types, with some shared housing and some individual flats. They also included housing that was let to people nominated by the local authority, and so the developments had a mixture of supported and unsupported tenants.

The programme of housing development became national during the 1980's and 90's, and Key became established throughout much of Scotland.

But the story is more than just about building or renovating houses. People's needs and aspirations change, and Key has tried to respond. For example, in Fort William the first accommodation we provided was a house we purchased overlooking the waters of Loch Linnie. After a few years, people were wanting their own individual homes, rather than sharing a house, and the location of the housing meant that it was not suitable for people with mobility problems.

So we build some new housing, as part of a wider development involving 2 other housing associations, Lochaber and Link. Tenants were able to make choices about whether they wanted to live in their own flat or share with others, and they built this into the planning of the development. We also provided much needed new housing for unsupported tenants.

And over the years, we have changed many of our housing developments to meet the needs and aspirations of our tenants. In 2004 we are starting on a major alterations programme to our housing in Alness, Riddrie, Milngaive and Stirling. Others will follow.

When we talk to people about their housing, we sometimes find that we have to look beyond what Key can provide and find other houses or flats. This has involved working with other housing agencies to get additional accommodation in the locality. Key currently supports about 120 people in housing provided by other housing associations and councils.

The future will see more of Key working with other housing agencies, or indeed buying individual houses as required, and less of the new build developments of the past. A number of houses have been purchased during 2003 to enable people to move from a Glasgow City Council hostel which has been closed. The people are being supported by Key and in some cases our subsidiary, Community Lifestyles.

For Key, housing is a means to an end - it needs to be flexible and adaptable, because needs and expectations change. And we as a housing provider need to be flexible and adaptable as well. As we have done in the past, we will continue to use our experience in housing to help people get the housing options that they need and they want, whether this is through Key or through other housing agencies.