Why the Trust exists
The gap between the need for and the supply of decent, affordable housing in the Highlands grows bigger every year.
In 2007/8, over 10,000 households applied to the Highland Council for housing although in rural communities many people in need do not apply because, with so few houses and re-lets occurring (due to Right to Buy sales), they have little chance of an allocation. Moreover, the ever-increasing cost of buying houses which become available locally is now far beyond the means of most of those in need who often end up living in caravans, insecure private lets, sub-standard, overcrowded or other unsuitable accommodation.
When people do not have a reasonable hope of securing a good home in their preferred community they may well leave and the community's social and economic well-being will be affected - often seriously.
Housing Associations, which today are the main delivery agents of new rented and other affordable housing opportunities in rural communities, are doing as much to help as their public funding allows. However all the main players in the Highlands agree that new approaches and additional resources are required to tackle the problem.
So, the Highland Small Communities Housing Trust was set up in 1998 by this partnership of interests to help the smaller communities of the Highlands get the best results possible from the housing system. Since then we have worked with and on behalf of numerous communities throughout the Highlands and helped them think through and resolve many local housing problems.