Agudas Israel Housing Association
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| Company type | Not For Profit Housing Association |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1982 |
| Founder | London, UK |
Area served | United Kingdom |
Key people | Chaya Spitz OBE (CEO) |
Number of employees | 200 |
| Website | aiha |
Agudas Israel Housing Association (AIHA) is a BME Housing Association that provides over 900 low-cost homes for members of the Orthodox Jewish community in need across the UK. The non-profit includes low-cost housing for rent and shared ownership; retirement living; residential and nursing care;[1] supported living for people with special needs; and a mother-and-baby home.[2]
AIHA's flagship scheme is Schonfeld Square, a mixed development incorporating rented general needs properties, sheltered retirement housing and a care home. The organization has earned various accolades, including the RIBA Housing Project Design Award, British Homes Awards, Housing Project Design Award, and Happi Award, to name a few.[3]
Agudas Israel Housing Association started its journey in 1982[4] to address the housing problems of the Orthodox Jewish community in North Hackney. Its main objective during that time was to provide housing advice to Charedi families in acute need. The Orthodox Jewish community, which by 1991 had reached an estimated 18,000 people, has since grown to approximately 75,000[5] people.[6]
AIHA registered with the Housing Corporation as a BME Housing Association in July 1986 with the purpose of providing housing for Orthodox Jews and is now registered with the Regulator of Social Housing as a Social Landlord. The organization has adopted the National Housing Federation Code of Governance in 2015.[7] It is governed in accordance with the Nolan principles of Public Life and AIHA's own Code of Conduct and policies.
Services
Agudas Israel Housing Association manages over 900 homes in North London, Salford,[8] Canvey Island,[9] Westcliff, and Gateshead in the Northeast of England. The non-profit also provides over 100 spaces of supported housing, ranging from birth to retirement living, and employs over 145 team members to deliver these services.
Services provided at the flagship Schonfeld Square include residential and nursing care, hospice care, and supported housing for independent retired people. Other important AIHA projects include providing accommodation and support for people with learning disabilities at Yad Vo’Ezer's in Queen Elizabeth Walk.
Notable AIHA developments include: the RIBA award-winning Schonfeld Square; the Beenstock Home in Salford; and the Beis Brucha Mother & Baby Home. All of the above-mentioned works have been rated "Good" by the Care Quality Commission.[10]