Homes by Association - by Mary Taylor (Paperback)

Whether you work in housing, policy, community development, or are simply interested in how not-for-profit organisations can deliver public good, this book helps you make sense of a sector that now boasts nearly 150 associations providing homes for around half a million people across Scotland. You will gain insight into how associations evolved from small, often community-led initiatives into diverse, professional organisations operating in cities, towns, rural areas and islands, and across every type of housing imaginable, meeting some of the highest standards possible.

By tracing the story from the 1970s to the present day, the book shows how housing associations responded to social change, devolution, privatisation and shifting public expectations. The reader will see what has worked, what hasn't, and how values such as community control, accountability and social purpose have been sustained while organisations have grown in scale and complexity. Associations are not-for-profit businesses with a social purpose, often registered as charities and rooted in communities.

The structure of the book supports understanding and reflection:

Part One helps you understand the origins of housing associations, exploring key developments such as independent living, rehabilitation of tenements, rural communities, and community ownership in all its guises.