Homes by Association (50 years of housing associations in Scotland)

Homes by Association gives readers a clear, engaging understanding of the origins and progression of housing associations in Scotland since the 1970s, before and after devolution. 

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.

• Part Two distils practical lessons from successful associations, focusing on the three key ingredients of committed, competent people using money to make great buildings and homes.

• The final chapter brings everything together and equips you to think critically about the future - asking big questions about size, regulation, renewal and what sustains these businesses now and in future.

Why this book is valuable for readers

• Written by people who have researched, managed and worked inside this sector so can offer informed, real-world perspectives
• Clear and accessible, with minimal jargon and a critical but constructive approach
• Enriched with photographs, case examples and insights from leading practitioners, backed up by published material and data on recent trends and statistics

• Provides a timely, practical look at a not-for-profit model sector contributing to public good, offering positive business and governance model given the crisis of public services in many places today.

Homes by Association helps readers understand not just what housing associations are, but what they can teach us about resilient organisations, community-focused leadership and building homes—and systems—that last.