Apex Housing Association (Apex) was originally established in 1965 as Derry Housing Association to tackle the serious housing shortage which existed within the city. Housing conditions were generally poor with severe overcrowding.

Solutions to the problem were sought by members of the most affected communities under the guidance of local clergyman Rev. Mulvey. Their first step to address the housing shortage was to form a housing association (Derry Housing Association) and to raise capital to initiate housing projects by fundraising from within the local business community.

Apex Housing Association (Apex) is a major housing association managing a stock of some 4,500 homes, which will grow to over 5,500 when the current planned programmes are completed. The business is housing and associated care and support services, and from tiny beginnings almost half-a-century ago in Derry~Londonderry, they have grown into a substantial organisation with a geographical base throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Apex is a not-for-profit housing association, led by volunteers and work to social enterprise principles. Apex employs over 600 staff throughout the organisation and through the group structure they also provide affordable housing both for rent and for sale.

Key areas of expertise

• Housing management
• Building and maintenance
• Caring and support services

Scope of activities

• General needs housing for families and single people
• Purpose-built accommodation for older people
• Supported housing for people with individual needs, including those with mental health difficulties; learning disabilities; alcohol/drug addictions; and those who are physically disabled
• Support services for vulnerable groups under the Supporting People programme
• Community buildings under the management of local communities

Values
Apex Housing, as a registered housing association and a non-profit organisation operating in the public sector, has a clear set of values underpinning its work, and these are a recurring theme in all that it seeks to achieve.

Quality Housing
Ensure quality designs, providing ‘Lifetime Homes’ which meet the particular needs of different client groups.

Service
Apply ‘Best Value’ principles to provide efficient and effective service delivery by staff committed to continued improvement.

Staff
Develop professionalism amongst staff, enabling them to meet challenges and attain organisational goals.

Customer Focus

Accessibility
Ensure easy access, support, advice, information and services.

Life Enhancement
Encourage and facilitate independence, supported where appropriate, in homely and comfortable environments and treating residents with respect and dignity.

Satisfaction
Obtain feedback and promote choice through consultation, participation, and the service review process to ensure continued satisfaction with the Association’s service delivery.

Sustainable
Make best use of housing stock by utilising housing management policies to assist communities in the development of stable communities.

Best Value/Affordability

Development
Invest in sound, value for money developments while maintaining rent levels within affordable limits.

Management
Apply sound economic principles to ensure effective management which will strive to improve service delivery, while maintaining the financial integrity of the organisation and the value of the Association’s assets.

Accountability

Policies
Ensure that the Association’s policies demonstrate integrity, openness and fairness.

Procedures
Operate systems of monitoring, auditing, and reporting the results ensuring that they are widely available.