On 26 January 2010, around 70 people heard Olu Olanrewaju, Managing Director of PCHA, part of Genesis Housing Group, speak about how BME housing associations can best meet the needs of their communities.

The speech, which took place at Oxford House, a community centre in Bethnal Green, followed the launch of a report by Karin, an organisation which provides affordable homes and community services mainly to the Somali and BME community in London. The report was called 'No Choice, Little Voice'.

Olu began by celebrating the role that small unregistered housing associations such as Karin play in representing the under-represented. He drew attention to the complex and multiple disadvantages faced by the Somali community in London.

These challenges include poor levels of employment, overcrowded housing, lack of skills and education, and ill health - what the report calls a 'perfect storm' of deprivation which can be difficult or impossible to break out of.

Olu suggested there was little difference between BME housing associations and mainstream RSLs. PCHA was set up over 40 years ago to provide housing for Paddington-based families, regardless of their religion or race. Its founding members lived in the community and saw the desperate housing need.

While BME housing associations today are no different he argued, they have come a long way since they too were set up in the late 1970s. They continue to provide not just homes for communities in desperate housing need, but also 'housing plus' services, leadership and benchmarking.

Olu pointed to how organisations like Karin play a pivotal role in educating the rest of the sector on how to engage with small communities, and how to create effective community links. Large housing associations don't have those close-knit interfaces that are so effective in getting to the nub of what customers really want from their housing provider and organisations like Karin speak up for those who are often unable to speak for themselves.

For example, through its partnership with Genesis Housing Group, Karin has been able to strengthen its base in the local areas where it operates. Genesis in turn has learned new and innovative ways of engaging with its BME communities, and BME community opportunities and aspirations for accessing social rented housing and home ownership have also been promoted and improved. With the Federation of Black Housing Organisations long gone, we are left to depend on each other more than we ever have before.

Olu said "All housing associations must ensure they are meeting the changing communities they serve - not just established second and third generation BME communities, but also emerging communities such as refugees and asylum seekers. By working in partnership with each other therefore, BME and mainstream housing associations are better able to meet the needs of hidden or vulnerable communities."

Photo caption: Olu Olanrewaju, Managing Director of PCHA

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For further information please contact Diana Evans on 020 7563 0028 / diana.evans@ghg.org.uk

Notes to editors

Karin Housing Association was initially established in 1988 as the Karin Housing Co-op. Its founder members were a group of black women who wanted to address the housing and social needs of the Somali community and others in London.

Karin has been addressing the housing and support needs of the Somali community over the last 21 years. The association has a successful track record for providing culturally sensitive services and is also part of a vibrant network of Somali voluntary organisations.

Karin has over 140 homes and operates in Hackney, Haringey, Islington, Newham, and Tower Hamlets. It also provides community and advocacy services.

Karin's vision is to 'aim for fairer access to decent housing and social opportunity for the Somali community and others' and its goals are to expand and maintain its property stock, provide good governance and accountability, campaign for and publicise the needs of its clients, develop its staff and engage the community in its work.

The research report is available from www.karin-ha.org.

PCHA has over 40 years experience of owning and managing homes. It currently provides homes and services to more than 10,000 households. PCHA owns and/or manages homes in 18 boroughs across London and the south east. Services include housing management, leasehold management services for shared owners and support services for vulnerable residents.

Genesis Housing Group provides homes and services to tens of thousands of people across London and the south east. The Group consists of PCHA, Pathmeads and Springboard housing associations. It also has a charitable foundation, Genesis Community, and is one of the largest and most diverse housing groups in the UK. Genesis Housing Group owns and/or manages more than 40,000 homes across London and the south east. Its overiding aim is to put customers first and provide excellent service to all.