THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR KEY WORKERS

Escalating house prices and inadequate provision of affordable alternatives have, in certain locations, led to difficulties in attracting and retaining key workers such as nurses, teachers and police officers.

Many key workers earn too little to afford a mortgage but too much to qualify for social housing. These people are faced with a number of undesirable options which include: renting privately at unsustainable levels; living in shared housing; commuting long distances to work; or indeed, seeking an alternative profession.

The problems are particularly acute in London and the South East, raising concerns about the staffing of key services.

HOW CAN THE APEX HOUSING GROUP HELP?
The Apex Housing Group is one of the South East's most successful providers of Housing Solutions. The Apex Group is an independent, not-for-profit organisation who provide a range of homes for people in housing need. Formed in 1996, The Apex Group currently manages over 5000 homes throughout the region with housing solutions ranging from those with general needs to those buying shared ownership, and for many key workers working in both the public and private sector.

The provision of key worker housing now forms a major part of Apex's growth programme and Apex has secured its position as one of the leading providers of this kind of accommodation in London and the South East.

Apex works with a number of key worker partners including NHS Trusts, Educational Authorities and Police Forces. These partnerships have led to solutions as varied as shared ownership schemes, equity loan schemes, the refurbishment of existing on-site accommodation as well as building new housing developments.

Apex is a financially strong organisation with substantial agreed funding to ensure that it continues both its key worker portfolio, and is able to meet the needs of new public sector clients as and when opportunities arise.

A PROVEN TRACK RECORD
Over the years, Apex has formed effective partnerships with a number of key authorities to meet the housing needs of teachers, nurses and the police. It has been through this experience that Apex has been able to develop a flexible approach to key worker housing which is able to meet the specific needs of a range of employers in the public sector.

Apex has worked with a number of NHS Trusts on the provision of on-site accommodation for staff. Apex understands the importance of good quality, well managed accommodation and its relationship in providing the public sector HR professionals the ability to recruit and retain high calibre staff.

In partnership with various NHS Trusts, Apex is involved with the refurbishment and building of over 1350 on-site homes for a range of hospital staff.

The Apex Housing Group has also developed relationships with a number of police forces throughout the South East to provide low cost home ownership housing for police officers and support staff. Such initiatives have included shared ownership schemes which entitle people to buy part of a property with a mortgage and pay rent to Apex on the unsold equity.

Apex continues to work with local authorities on the provision of key worker shared ownership schemes and has over 300 homes in the pipeline throughout the South East.

To find out more about Apex's key worker housing solutions, please contact: Alan Johnson, The Apex Housing Group, Spelthorne House, Thames Street, Staines, Middlesex TW18 4TA, Tel: 01784 469444 or e-mail: info@apexhousinggroup.co.uk