​Ashley Community Housing offers innovative solution to refugee crisis at leading Landlord Expo

Bristol-based social enterprise Ashley Community Housing (ACH) is to participate in this week's South West Landlord Expo (17th March) for the first time as it looks to engage property owners with its fresh approach to helping refugees settle and integrate in the UK.

Landlords and property owners are invited to meet with ACH at the expo as it looks to acquire new properties and successfully implement its resettlement services which offer tenants essential support and training - increasing employability and encouraging independence. 85% of ACH's tenants progress on to employment and further study after being resettled.

Working closely with refugees from a number of different countries who have already settled in Bristol, ACH offers a culturally-responsive resettlement service and support framework which allows a level of flexibility that is crucial when managing the unpredictable nature of the current migration of refugees moving to the UK. The quicker these refugees receive accommodation, the quicker the organisation can provide support and training.

Newly arrived refugees approached by ACH will benefit from a resettlement service which is adaptable to their individual needs and strives to connect them with other refugees from similar backgrounds. This process aids in breaking down language and cultural barriers yet this can only happen when the organisation secures more properties.

Each new property ACH acquire creates approximately 2 part-time jobs, 5 volunteering opportunities and moves 10 people from homelessness to sustained independence every year. Properties contributed to the organisation have a positive long-term impact, benefiting both tenants and landlords.

Fuad Mahamed, CEO of ACH, said: "With more than 1m people claiming asylum in Europe last year, largely as a result of ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa, our work is particularly relevant to Bristol in 2016.

"Through our resettlement program, we've seen refugees come to the city, integrate and flourish. Adib, one of our former tenants from Syria, is now working as a painter and decorator while he starts to build his own carpentry business. With our help, he and his family are safe, engaged with the community and contributing to their new city."

Landlords who contribute properties to the organisation have access to long-term leases, with the possibility of extension, and competitive rents with no DSS payments. There is no set up cost or management fee and landlords have complete peace of mind as the organisation offer a full property management service.

ACH's work has also been praised by Bristol Mayor George Ferguson: “I support any programme which aims to educate, train and mentor residents into employment. I especially favour those that combine all of these, as is the case with this most innovative project, which at its core is directed at alleviating poverty for one of the most marginalised groups in our wonderful city."

Landlords interested in speaking with ACH can reach Said Mohamed, Housing Manager at:

Tel: 0117 954 0433 Email: saed.mohamed@ashleyhousing.com

Interview requests can be submitted to Shaun Hickman, Marketing & Communications Officer at:

Tel: 0117 954 0433 Email: shaun.hickman@ashleyhousing.com

Notes to the Editor

1. Ashley Community Housing (ACH) was established in 2008 and is a leading specialist housing and training provider with offices in Bristol, Birmingham and Wolverhampton
2. In the last 8 years ACH has grown from a team of 4 to a team of over 30 employed full-time staff who are a core part of this £3 million organisation
3. The organisation has now successfully re-housed over 1,200 previously homeless refugees
4. Ashley Community Housing is a social enterprise limited by guarantee and is registered with the Homes and Communities Agency as a social housing provider
5. Find out more at: http://www.ashleyhousing.com