For its first seven years it was called St Pancras Housing Association (Ireland) after the London-based housing association of the same name, which has been providing social housing since the 1920s.
The association was set up on foot of government policy promoting the development of housing associations in Ireland. During the late 1980s and early 1990s there was a strong desire to promote new systems of housing management and to encourage a greater diversity of suppliers of social rented housing. It was felt that progress on these issues would serve the interests of households living in the sector. Key to this policy was the establishment of a new funding scheme in the early 1990s aimed at assisting housing associations to provide general needs housing. This was a major departure since before this time housing associations had been primarily providers of special needs housing.
Clúid is a dedicated housing organisation which, through the provision of housing, aims to facilitate the creation of homes and communities where people want to live and settle. Clúid is an Irish word meaning ‘the seat beside the fire’; the corner seat that was vacated for the guest, or reserved for the venerable elderly member of the family. The concept expressed here of neighbourliness and home is central to Clúid’s work.
Management Structure
Clúid is managed by a team of full-time staff who report to a voluntary board of directors. The directors bring expertise in a number of fields to the association including housing policy, housing association management, research, construction, law, finance & human resources. There are three offices located in Cork, Dublin and Galway.
Clúid works in partnership with housing authorities to implement their housing strategies. We undertake developments in consultation with the authorities and our dwellings are occupied by applicants who are nominated by the housing authority. It is through the authority and its elected membership that Clúid legitimises its work.
Core Work
Cluíd’s core work is the provision of ‘general needs’ housing that is, housing for people with low incomes. It also provides ‘special needs’ housing, that is, housing for people with a particular need in addition to a housing need. This may include for example elderly people or people with disabilities.
Tenants are drawn from the waiting list of the local authority in whose area housing is being provided. Different sized households are accommodated as well as households at different stages from young to elderly. The association aims to create mixed, sustainable communities where each household feels at home and where each has a contribution to make to the community.
The Bigger Picture
The association sees a significant role for itself in working with housing authorities to fulfil their targets under their housing strategies and action plans and also in assisting in the development of mixed tenure housing schemes. Other innovative projects include transfers of housing from local authorities to Clúid where part of an estate has deteriorated to a level where a new start is required. Clúid is also contracted by local authorities to undertake property management and estate management services.
Clúid plays an active role in the Irish Council for Social Housing, the representative body for the housing association sector, as well as participating in government working groups and research studies. Clúid actively encourages expertise and specialisation in housing and is keen to share experience and learn from other housing organisations. Clúid believes that a strong housing association sector will provide a significant element of social housing provision in the future and play an important role in addressing housing disadvantage.