History of GWSF
GWSF was first set up more than 30 years ago, in 1978. We became fully autonomous in 2006, when GWSF registered as an independent company limited by guarantee.
History of community-owned housing in Scotland
Community-controlled housing associations and co-operatives (CCHAs) were first set up in Glasgow in the early 1970s, to tackle slum conditions in run-down inner city neighbourhoods. The CCHA and co-operative movement has grown rapidly since then, to tackle a wide range of housing needs in Glasgow and elsewhere. For example:
- Town centre regeneration in places like Paisley, Greenock, Clydebank and Barrhead
- Transforming poor housing conditions in unpopular, low demand municipal housing estates
- Smaller-scale, local transfers of houses owned by councils, Scottish Homes and Glasgow Housing Association to local community ownership
- New build housing for both rent and low cost home ownership, to provide more housing variety and choice within local neighbourhoods
Community-owned housing today
Community-controlled housing associations and co-operatives exist in many parts of Scotland, but most are based in local communities in west central Scotland.
- Today there are 70 community-owned housing organisations in the west of Scotland - almost half of the total number of active housing associations in Scotland
- Community-controlled housing associations and co-operatives own about 1 in 3 of all social rented houses in the west of Scotland, providing homes for around 75,000 households
- Community-owned housing grew significantly in 2011, following a large number of successful tenant ballots in Glasgow
- CCHAs now provide landlord or factoring services for more than one in four of all households in Glasgow