Talks are underway to create a new alliance to make sure that low income households in Oxfordshire benefit from new homes planned for the County as house prices slip further out of reach.
The Vale Housing Association and Sovereign Housing Group announced they are in discussion to create an alliance that will attract more government funding into Oxfordshire to address chronic waiting lists.
If approved, the enlarged Sovereign Housing Group will ensure that The Vale Housing Association can focus on providing front line services such as doing repairs or initiatives to carry out anti-social behaviour. Sovereign Housing Group would provide support behind the scenes, like working with funders and land owners to build more affordable homes.
Vale Chief Executive Mike Roberts said: "Although we're only investigating possibilities at this stage, this seems a great opportunity to allow Vale to have the back-up of a larger organisation, freeing us up to put more focus onto better services and securing more new homes".
Sovereign Group Chief Executive Ann Santry added: " We have been working together on new homes for some time, and this alliance is an opportunity to make our relationship stronger and more effective. The Vale are doing an excellent job providing services to residents, with 95% of their residents happy with the services they receive.
We hope that in time all Sovereign Housing Group residents in Oxfordshire will be able to benefit from their services, and the added advantage of their links with the local community."
Vale has around 100 shareholders, including many residents, who will vote on the issue at a special meeting later this year, and if agreed, Vale would join the Sovereign Housing Group next April.
If that goes ahead, no jobs would be lost, and no offices closed. In time, Vale could also manage almost 800 more Oxfordshire homes currently run by Sovereign Housing Association.