In the ninth of a series of articles on the Big Venture Challenge Winners, we introduce today Jim Overbury, founder of Housing Action.
Big Venture Challenge is a national programme, run by UnLtd and supported by the Big Lottery Fund, to find 25 of the most ambitious social entrepreneurs in England. The 25 winners all want investment so that their enterprises can deliver social impact on a significant scale. They will each receive a unique package of financial and non-financial support to help them achieve their goals. Meet winner No 9:
Jim Overbury, founder of Housin Action
Who are they?
Jim Overbury has been with the organisation since 1994, and has led the change from a grant dependent charity to a rapidly growing social enterprise, delivering significant social benefit. Jim is determined to take the organisation from its rural roots in East Anglia to a national concern.
What do they do?
Housing Action's business is housing management. It lets privately-rented properties at an affordable rate to vulnerable and homeless people, supporting them to independent living. The model guarantees a rental income to private landlords, and ensures all tenant-related damage is repaired, in return for accepting 20% less than market rents. In this way, Housing Action is creating the third housing economy by delivering substantial numbers of social housing, using private capital.
Why were they selected?
The judges and UnLtd agreed that this was an innovative model with high impact, and significant potential. They felt that they would benefit significantly from Big Venture Challenge support in refining the model and developing their plans for scale.
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