Tenants and staff from Cornwall Housing Ltd are supporting #housingday 2016 which aims to raise awareness of what they call the ’positive impact social housing has on the lives of many thousands of people across the UK’.

#housingday 2016 takes place today with social housing organisations across the UK championing social housing, tenants and staff.

Cornwall Housing manages more than 10,000 social housing properties for Cornwall Council and delivers the council’s housing policy. This includes managing Cornwall’s housing register and placing people who qualify for social housing into suitable accommodation from St Just to Bude and Saltash.

Cornwall Housing has more than 500 staff from all over Cornwall based in Bodmin, Camborne, Threemilestone, Falmouth and Liskeard aiming to deliver high quality homes and housing services to the communities of Cornwall.

Martin Emery, Chair of Cornwall Housing Ltd and a tenant from Gunnislake, in supporting #Housingday 2016, said: ’Being a tenant of Cornwall Housing, I am proud to decorate my home, look after my garden and my general neighbourhood because it is my home. I also want to care for my neighbours when they need it.’

He highlighted how living in social housing offers many tenants an opportunity to get involved in their communities: ’Cornwall Housing offers their tenants a chance to become involved in their estates, by joining the Tenants’ Forum and having a say. I am proud of my involvement with Cornwall Housing, and now I am Chair of the Board for Cornwall Housing Ltd.’

Cornwall Council cabinet member for housing Joyce Duffin said: ’This is a great initiative which celebrates and highlights the importance of working together to create strong communities.’  

Rita Taylor, a Cornwall Housing tenant from Callington, is supporting #Housingday2016. She said: ’Pride in being a tenant comes from a variety of things. Firstly, it’s in having a safe and comfortable home that you know is going to be taken care of and kept to a good standard. Then it’s in knowing that tenants concerns are listened to.’

Cornwall Housing manages 10,392 council homes for Cornwall Council; looks after Cornwall’s housing register which has nearly 30,000 applicants; found emergency accommodation for 235 households last year; and has responsibility for 2,454 garages, 368 leasehold properties, 43 play areas, 12 shops, 16 stores and 66 gypsy and travellers’ pitches.