Hearth Housing Association

Public benefits

A2.1 The direct benefit of this objective is to assist people who for whatever reason find themselves homeless or unable to afford private accommodation suitable for their needs. Having a home of their own is often the first step for people in finding employment, or even signing on for much-needed benefits. While the restoration of historic

buildings is incidental to our primary purpose of providing housing, it often enables us to provide accommodation in a location which might otherwise not be available or be too expensive. The benefits of providing suitable housing for people in need are widely recorded by the NI Housing Executive and other bodies. There is no obvious harm arising from the provision of housing, apart from environmental damage that may arise from demolition and associated blight, or from social disruption awaiting redevelopment. Both of those disbenefits are avoided by providing housing through restoration of existing buildings. The direct beneficiaries of this purpose are those persons in need who are housed. However good affordable housing leads to an improvement in general health and a reduction in crime, which benefits society as a whole. The restoration of historic buildings provides a more attractive and satisfying environment for the public in general as well as the people who benefit directly by living or working in them. In most cases there is no private benefit arising from our work. On occasion it may be necessary to acquire a relatively short lease on a building in order to restore it for housing purposes, but in such cases the possible ultimate benefit to the ground landlord would be outweighed by the benefit to the people being housed. There may also be incidental benefits such as increased tourism in an area following restorations, but such benefit would be incidental and general, benefiting an area rather than individuals. A2.2 providing for aged, disabled or chronically sick persons in need thereof houses or hostels and any associated amenities specially designed or adapted to meet the disabilities and requirements of such persons; The benefit of this objective is to enable people in poor health or with disabilities to be provided with or remain in their own home. Buildings may be adapted by the provision of handrails, stairlifts or bathroom adaptations, which enable people to remain in their own home, with all the obvious advantages of stability and convenience. There is no obvious harm in this objective. The benefit is for existing and new tenants of the Association. The private benefit is directly connected to the charitable objective. A2.3 providing services, advice or assistance upon terms appropriate to their means to aged, disabled, (whether mentally or physically) or chronically sick persons in need thereof in arranging or carrying out works of improvement, repair or maintenance to houses occupied by them, and providing any associated amenities specially designed or adapted to meet the disabilities and requirements of such persons; This purpose is an extension of the previous one, specifically aimed at adapting homes for existing tenants. A2.4 any other charitable activity which may be carried on from time to time by a body registered as a charitable Housing Association under the Order. This purpose allows the Association to carry out educational work or other activities incidental to its primary purpose but consistent with the primary objective of providing housing. Educational work is essential in disseminating the work of the Association and helping to raise funds for its work. There is no harm emanating from this purpose. The benefit is ultimately for the benefit of other people in housing need, and in identifying buildings that may be adapted or restored in future. There is no private benefit in such work.

What your organisation does

Provides social housing for rent in Northern Ireland, primarily through the restoration and management of historic buildings at risk of loss through dereliction.