Between state and market: The relationship between non-profit housing organisations and the state in three national contexts

This paper presents the results of an international collaborative study5 of non-profit housing; one of the main alternatives to public housing developed in many countries. The study involved researchers6 in three countries using a common methodology to engage the leaders of non-profit organisations themselves in the research process. The paper draws on earlier work on the hybridisation of social housing provision and the competing logics of state, market and third sector. It explores the hypothesis that despite the rhetoric of independence from government and the discourse of social enterprise, the relationship of non-profits with the state has been one of the key influences on the scope for action and forms of hybridity in each country studied. It uses a modified Delphi methodology to collect information from leaders of non-profit housing organisations in three countries about how their organisations are negotiating hybrid influences on their strategy and operations. This method involves collation of responses to scaled surveys from panels of 20-31 organisations in each country, playing back the results to the participants and follow up depth interviews with samples of respondents to explore and interpret the meanings of their responses7. The paper is intended to provoke comments8 on the approach by displaying preliminary findings in relation to state influences on hybridity; reflecting on methodology and drawing out some tentative conclusions in relation to the paper’s hypothesis. Contrary to Koppell’s (2001) warning in another domain of housing hybrids, it appears that state influence and control over social housing hybrids remains a key influence on their scope and actionOTB ResearchArchitecture and The Built Environmen

Between state and market: Non-profit housing organisations in three national contexts

This paper presents the results of an international collaborative study5 of non-profit housing involving researchers6 in three countries using a common methodology to engage the leaders of non-profit organisations themselves in the research process. The paper draws on earlier work on the hybridisation of social housing provision and the competing logics of state, market and third sector. It explores the hypothesis that despite the rhetoric of independence from government and the discourse of social enterprise, the relationship with the state has been one of the key influences on scope for action and hybridity in each country studied. It uses a modified Delphi methodology to collect information from leaders of non-profit housing organisations in three countries about how their organisations are negotiating these hybrid influences on their strategy and operations. This method involves collation of responses to scaled surveys from panels of 20-31 organisations in each country, playing back the results to the participants and follow up depth interviews with samples of respondents to explore and interpret the meanings of their responses7. The paper is intended to elicit comments on the approach by displaying preliminary findings in relation to state influences on hybridity; reflecting on methodology and drawing out some tentative conclusions in relation to the paper’s hypothesis. Contrary to Koppell’s (2001) warning in another domain of housing hybrids, it appears that state influence and control over social housing hybrids remains a key influence on their scope and action.OTB ResearchArchitecture and The Built Environmen

Close neighbours not distant friends: What has been learned about neighbourhood focused housing associations in England and the Netherlands

Effective neighbourhood working is a key requirement for housing associations in England and the Netherlands, yet this is often hampered by conflicting institutional logics of scale and localism. Housing associations are often considered to be ideally placed to facilitate such change and have a business interest in doing so, but to do so they need to establish legitimacy and trust, and to build effective partnerships with residents, government agencies and other third sector organisations based in these neighbourhoods. This is the second paper based on a two-year action research project following eight housing associations (four in England and four in The Netherlands) in their quest to balance organisational strength with community anchorage to increase their neighbourhood focus. It tracks progress and learning from these case studies in the second year of the project in which the key themes for activities have focused on community empowerment, organisational change and partnership working. It summarises learning points, barriers and enablers in relation to these three themes, assesses the value of the learning tools used in the programme and concludes by discussing the wider implications of the programme in relation to values and community focus, relations with state and market and the ability to ‘keep on keeping on’ in a time of austerity.OTB onderzoekOTB Research Institute for the Built Environmen

The old and the new: Comparing strategic positioning of third sector housing organisations in the Netherlands and Australia

Housing Quality and Process InnovationOTB Research Institute for the Built Environmen

Close neighbours not distant friends: Neighbourhood focused housing associations: developments in England and the Netherlands

OTB Research Institut