| Type | Company, charity, housing association |
|---|---|
| Industry | Social housing |
| Founded | London (1996) |
| Founder(s) | Steve Stride |
| Headquarters | London, England |
| Area served | Poplar |
| Services | Housing, community regeneration |
| Operating income | £34 million (2009) |
| Net income | £0.3 million (2009) |
| Total assets | £129 million (2009) |
| Employees | 291 FTE (2009) |
| Website | poplarharca.co.uk |
| References: Source: Statutory accounts | |
Poplar HARCA (Housing and Regeneration Community Association) is a housing association in the East End of London, England. It is the landlord of about 8,500 homes in the Poplar area, a quarter of which have been sold leasehold; the remainder are let on assured tenancies at subsidised rent levels.
The association focuses on community regeneration as part of its core mission, with a Neighbourhood Centre on each estate. It is the official provider of youth work activities in Poplar,[1] and offers advice and support on benefits and job seeking, running courses such as Basic Skills, English for Speakers of Other Languages, Information Technology and customised training courses.[2]
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Poplar HARCA was set up by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to regenerate the area, especially certain Council estates whose residents voted to transfer to the new body. Parts of seven estates (about 4,500 homes) transferred to Poplar HARCA in 1998. The following year, tenants on further estates voted to remain with the Council. However, after a lengthy consultation of all Council estates in Tower Hamlets begun in 2002, several more estates in Poplar did transfer between 2005 and 2007. The final ballots were on several estates in East India ward, with a 78% majority in favour of transfer in 2006,[3] including the iconic Balfron Tower; and Coventry Cross Estate with 65% in 2007.[4]
The association recognises that some 2,000 of its homes do not meet modern living standards.[5] Its "Reshaping Poplar" agenda is a twelve-year plan to update, improve and replace this housing, developing hundreds of new homes, alongside parks, health and education facilities.[6][7] John Denham, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, met residents to discuss the plans in September 2009.[8]
The constitution allows for twelve board members including seven resident directors (tenants or leaseholders), one local councillor and up to four independent members. There are a further three "Focus Boards" overseeing "Places", "Services" and Finance & Audit within the organisation. As of September 2009, the Chair of the main Poplar Board is Bernadette Conroy, and the Vice-Chair is Rev. James Olanipekun, a resident.[9]
Poplar HARCA has also formally incorporated youth empowerment into their management structure. Its Youth Empowerment Board is formally represented in the governance of the association.[10]
The Chief Executive is Steve Stride.[11]
An Audit Commission inspection in 2007 awarded Poplar HARCA two stars out of three, with "promising prospects for improvement".[12]
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