Introduction

Ash-Shahada Housing Association (ASHA) was established as a Muslim-led housing association, the first of its kind to be established in the UK in 1989. As a registered social landlord, ASHA has been providing housing in hostels, flats and houses in the prestigious London Boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark. Although established as a faith led RP it operates as a generic organisation whose Board, tenants and staff represent diverse faiths and communities. Our services are provided regardless of race, colour or religious orientation. You can read about our performance here.

ASHA was set up in 1987 as a co-operative. The Association was incorporated as an Industrial and Provident Society in June 1988. Ash-Shahada then rapidly expanded its stock to around 400 shortlife bed spaces in four boroughs including Brent and Barnet. ASHA registered with the Housing Corporation in March 1991. It has now handed back or bought and redeveloped most of its short life properties. Currently, ASHA has 149 general needs homes and 51 hostel bed spaces. We provide housing in the London Boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark. We have absorbed properties from other registered providers and continue to keep them within our portfolio. Sheltered accommodation schemes for mature tenants/over 55 at ASHA properties have been running for 10+ years. Distinct in the sector, ASHA owns a large majority of its properties and has a portfolio of flats and houses. ASHA aims to enter the supported accommodation and supported living arena in the near future.

ASHA saw an emerging trend of vulnerable people being left without homes because of their status and embarked on a unique journey to create a special partnership between ASHA, a Muslim led organisation, and a Methodist Church, to tackle the problem of housing for vulnerable people.

ASHA acquired a leased building termed as a hostel, to provide single dwelling spaces for people of all backgrounds who were unable to get access to safe homes. ASHA continues to look for partnerships that can help alleviate the housing crisis and provide society with unique solutions. ASHA has maintained a social welfare ethos by engaging in programmes that better its tenants and society at large, such as employability enhancement, lifelong learning, political engagement, faith inclusion and dialogue.

Our plans for growth focussed around supported accommodation, especially in the Midlands. We have currently registered around 3232 units through various providers under the compliance of our managing partner, Tenants UK Housing. Given we started as a niche housing association, servicing the BME and Muslim communities in London, we do have a particular focus on housing disadvantaged groups. Therefore, we provide housing to the following groups in particular, with third party requests from police services etc. to provide more:

1. Domestic violence
2. Refugees
3. Women only
4. Muslim women only
5. Mother and baby/children units

In addition to growth in the Midland, we are in the process of acquiring intermediate units in London and the surrounding cities for the purpose of social housing and affordable living. These include units in Merton, Lambeth and Birmingham.

We are in the process of strengthening the organisation ensuring that we are robust in meeting our regulatory requirements and tenant satisfaction. We have new board members and an invigorated management team to expand ASHA’s foot print.

Mission

(Even more and better homes for the vulnerable)

Our wider remit is reflected today in our mission:

Enabling communities to thrive through the provision of affordable decent social housing and targeted support particularly for Muslims, Black and ethnic minorities, refugees and vulnerable people

Vision

(A decent home for everyone)

We recognise that we must increase our efforts and scale in order to provide more and better-quality Housing accommodation and support for the ever-increasing demand, both in the immediate locality of our roots but also across the UK in areas where our need is most. This is reflected in the board’s vision for Ash-Shahada:

To become one of the top performing and trusted housing Associations of choice in the UK by Muslims, Black, Ethnic minorities, refugees and vulnerable people, by delivering excellent value and service in a commercially aware but ethical manner

Our Aims

To maintain an efficient and effective housing service, sensitive and responsive to the changing needs of our clients.
To provide general needs housing aimed at meeting the needs of black and minority ethnic people, and to maintain particular provision for Muslims, refugees, women, young single people and families.
To respond to new areas of need as they arise or are identified in both social and religious areas such as becoming a resource for training for skills and jobs.
To remain locally accountable to the communities we serve.
To implement our chosen strategies by using effective management systems and resource planning, and by adopting employment practices that attract and develop high calibre personnel.

Our Values

We’re inclusive – we take responsibility for our services and try to help everyone but particularly, Muslims, refugees and the vulnerable

We’re professional – you can trust us, we do the right things with integrity

We’re ambitious – we strive to get better each day as individuals and as a collective

We’re collaborative – we partner and collaborate to achieve more quicker

Ash-Shahada fulfils a unique role in that it is the only Muslim led housing association providing accommodation in South London.

WE OFFER A FULL HOUSING SERVICE

Accomodation

All our properties are offered to the London Boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Croydon through our nominations agreement. We do however operate a hostel scheme for single people through referral agencies.

Maintenance

As landlords we take the responsibility to ensure all our tenanted properties are in a wind and weatherproof condition and that all appliances for hot water and space heating are in general good repair and a serviceable condition.

Appropriate Housing Options

We have housing in the London Boroughs of Lambeth, Croydon and Southwark. We have 128 permanent dwellings in management in Lambeth, 21 in Southwark and 5 in Croydon. We also have 51 bed spaces in two hostels.

Continuous Growth

Currently we have 154 general needs homes and 51 hostel bed spaces. In addition we have a number of developments in the pipeline, which will produce further dwellings.