Open - stories of lives transformed by affordable homes

Austin King experienced the second world war at first hand - as a child he hid under the stairs when the bombs fell. Today he lives happily in a new home on the site of an old army camp, in Bishops Green, Newbury, Berkshire Photograph: Housing Corporation/Tim Wainwright

The Cox family moved to Gravesend, Kent, after spending years in their previous home. Despite being apprehensive about the move initially, the family are happy with their bigger home and the community in which they live Photograph: Housing Corporation/Tim Wainwright

As a widower, Cyril Smeeth now lives alone in Weston-super-mare, Somerset. He has had to deal with a great deal of tragedy in his life, including the deaths of two of his children Photograph: Housing Corporation/Tim Wainwright

Edna Bulmer holds a treasured picture of her husband. He died several years ago and she had to downsize, but she's ended up in a beautiful almshouse - one that she used to walk by as a child and always wanted to live in Photograph: Housing Corporation/Tim Wainwright

Despite being the victim of an unprovoked assault from former neighbours, Faazia Ahmed is not bitter. She now lives in an area of Manchester where she feels very safe and has made friends with people from the local community Photograph: Housing Corporation/Tim Wainwright

Jason Stockbridge from Sheerness was given custody of his two children two years ago. His son Joshua has cerebral palsy, so the family lives in a "lifetime home", where doorways and fixtures have been adapted to make it easier for him to get around Photograph: Housing Corporation/Tim Wainwright

Jordan Brand and his mum Kelly live in a new house just down the road from the rest of their family. It's a far cry from when Kelly fell pregnant with him and was forced to move into a hostel. She's now studying for a degree and hopes to build a real future for them both Photograph: Housing Corporation/Tim Wainwright

Kenneth Hunter Clarke and his wife like feeling "at home". The couple were recently rehoused as their old bungalow was one of a number to be bulldozed and replace. But they say they like their new home so much, they won't be moving back Photograph: Housing Corporation/Tim Wainwright

Lee Kemp was left paralysed from the waist down following a road accident in 1991. He had to move home several times before he found somewhere suitable, but he has not let his disability hold him back - he works as a Crippendale and was nominated for Male Striptease Artist of 2007 Photograph: Housing Corporation/Tim Wainwright

Long Mac displays memories of his native Vietnam in his kitchen. He came to England as a refugee in 1979 and enjoys the multicultural feel of Manchester, where he now lives Photograph: Housing Corporation/Tim Wainwright

Sheila Spencer says being in her new home is like being on holiday. The area she lived in before had become quite rough, so she's delighted to have moved. Plus, the bungalow suits her needs better, as her health has begun to fail Photograph: Housing Corporation/Tim Wainwright

Surq Lam, from Longsight, Manchester, gave up everything in Hong Kong to come to the UK. When her new home was targeted by a neighbour, she was left feeling frightened. But her housing association stepped in, and she now feels safe again Photograph: Housing Corporation/Tim Wainwright