A Model of Self-help

History:

The Tamil Community Housing Association, formerly the Tamil Refugee Housing Association, was formed in 1986 to address the housing and support needs of the Tamil refugee community in London. The Association grew out of the Tamil Refugee Action Group and was established with the support of other community based refugee organisations, leading housing associations and a number of London local authorities. The Association is a charitable Industrial and Provident Society registered with the Industrial and Provident Society, and is a member of the National Federation of Housing Associations. TCHA is now registered with the Housing Corporation. The Association is managed by a voluntary Management Board, with day to day operations and administration carried out by a professional staff team.

TCHA has become a lifeline for many Tamils, particularly refugees, who often feel isolated from mainstream services. TCHA currently manages 621 bedspaces in London. Most of these are short life properties acquired under licence from local authorities and other, larger Housing Associations. We also manage specialist supported housing and 106 permanent family homes on behalf of other Housing Associations in order to provide for the particular needs of the Tamil community. We have initiated actions to acquire ownership of these permanent homes by transferring them from other Housing Associations.

Vision: TCHA aims to fill gaps in the current provision of housing and support services through partnerships with local authorities, Housing Associations and community groups.

Mission: To provide high quality homes at affordable rent and offer culturally sensitive care and support services, primarily to Tamil people on low incomes and with the greatest need, in an economical, effective and efficient manner.

Aims & Objectives:

• To provide housing primarily for the Tamil community, particularly refugees who are homeless and in need of welfare support such as counselling, community care and state benefits advice.

• To provide supported housing for people with special needs such as learning difficulties, mental health disabilities and physical illness.

• To provide training and advice on education and employment to the community, particularly refugees, and other activities assisting their integration into the wider community.
  

Culturally sensitive services offered by TCHA

TCHA does not just provide affordable housing to asylum seekers and people on low incomes, but provides all the necessary assistance to incorporate them into the mainstream community. TCHA in partnership with local community organisations provides:

• Advice and information services, not just on housing issues but on a wide variety of other matters, and not just to our tenants but to the wider Tamil community at large.

• Care and support services for the most vulnerable in our community such as elders, people with mental health problems, support for new arrivals and identifying community needs.

• Employment-generating initiatives, including assistance with job searches, training partnerships local community organisations, job shadowing to provide training for volunteers, and mentoring schemes for young people.

• Capacity building within the community, as TCHA takes every opportunity to support new Tamil businesses such as building contractors.
  

We have 20 years experience of providing these services to our special client groups. We specialise in offering sensitive assistance to refugees: people who are disorientated, overwhelmed and often traumatised by their recent experiences, based on our staffs’ personal knowledge of the background to their situation.

Though we are open to applications from members of any racial, political or religious group, our knowledge of Tamil culture and traditions put us in a unique position to cater for the housing needs of Tamils. Other communitygroups or larger housing association are less able to understand the unique needs of this ethnic group such as language, religion, psychological make up, and cultural needs, norms and values.

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