Press Release

New look reception centres launched

August 2008

New look for Islington’s reception centres unveiled.

Cllr Terry Stacy, Islington Council’s executive member for Housing and Jessie White, Vice Chair of the Homes for Islington Board have officially open the new look reception centres for Islington in an event at the Herongate Reception centre.

The reception centres have undergone a major refurbishment modernising their facilities and completely redecorating the building. This now means that all units have their own kitchen facilities and no longer have to share bathrooms. Heating and hot water supply systems have also been upgraded and the lifts have been either refurbished or renewed.

HFI manages 3 reception centres for Islington Council:

• Peregrine in Hall Street EC1
• Hornsey Road
• Herongate off Essex Road

In total 115 units have been refurbished as part of the refurbishment programme. All have been improved to a standard which meets the Council’s and HFI’s objectives of providing good quality self contained accommodation for homeless families.

Cllr Stacy said: “I am very pleased with the new facilities. The reception centres were not up to standard or a good reflection on Islington before. The new look centres are a huge improvement and provide a much higher standard for the residents.”

Resident Sinead Howard and her daughter 14mth old Aine Howard attended the event. Sinead said: "I'm delighted with being here. I've got my own space which is what I really wanted."

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact James Asser in the HFI communications team on 020 7527 4379 or email james.asser@homesforislington.org.uk

Notes to editors:

Homes for Islington, one of the UK’s largest arms length management organisations (ALMO), which began operations in April 2004, is charged with managing council housing stock throughout the borough. It is owned by Islington Council and managed by a Board of Directors, made up of Islington tenants and leaseholders, council representatives and independent members.

The refurbishment programme started in February 2007 and was completed in Spring this year. The work was carried out by Mullalley and was on budget.

Pictures are available:

Attached picture shows (from l to r) Jessie White of the HFI Board, Cllr Stacy and Sinead and Aine Howard.