Housing, Self-help and Co-operation

Current systems of social housing encourage dependence on the state, ignoring the value of self-help, human solidarity and co-operation. This consultation identifies ways in which decent living conditions can be achieved without creating dependency.

This report provides a summary of the discussions at a Consultation held at St Georges House in Windsor Castle to identify ways in which decent living conditions can be achieved without creating dependency. Thirty people with a wide range of expertise and experience were brought together for two days and developed an Agenda for Action that dealt with the following issues:

• Self-help and co-operation: involving residents in the housing process.
• Encouraging partnerships between community residents and housing professionals.
• Developing an economic framework for co-operation and self-help.

The report includes sections on social housing and dependency, self-help and co-operation in housing and an enabling role for government. It also sets out in detail how to achieve the recommendations included in the Agenda for Action.