PR08.01
January 2008

SPRINGBOARD AND ST MATTHEW HOUSING JOIN FORCES
TO HELP VULNERABLE PEOPLE

Springboard Housing, part of Genesis Housing Group, has been chosen as the preferred partner by St Matthew Housing.

St Matthew Housing (SMH), which manages 688 units of supported housing, across East Anglia and the East Midlands , provides accommodation to single people who are either homeless or unsuitably housed. SMH also provides floating support services across some of its area. Sharing similar values to Genesis, St Matthews' aim is to enable people to achieve their individual goals and return to or maintain living independently in their local community.

Springboard supports more than 5,000 households in 24 local authority areas across London , Essex and Hertfordshire. In addition to general needs housing, shared ownership and leasehold properties, Springboard specialises in supported housing for the elderly and people with special needs.

Mark Gayfer, Chief Executive of Springboard, says, “We are delighted to be chosen by St Matthew Housing. Having met a number of its staff, customers and board members, we feel that there is a good level of cultural compatibility between Springboard and St Matthew, which we know is very important in making a partnership work well. Accordingly we propose that St Matthew Housing join the Group as a subsidiary of Springboard, subject to due diligence and Housing Corporation approval.

Wendy Cullingworth , Chief Executive of St Matthew Housing, says, “We welcome this partnership, which will strengthen St Matthew Housing for the benefit of our residents and service users.”

ENDS

For further information about Genesis Housing Group, please contact Diana Evans on 020 8150 4178 / email diana.evans@ghg.org.uk or visit www.ghg.org.uk

For further information about St Matthew Housing, please contact Sarah Yarrow, Communications Officer on 01284 732550 / email sarah.yarrow@stmatthewhousing.org or visit www.stmatthewhousing.org

Notes to editors:

1. Genesis Housing Group provides homes and services to tens of thousands of people across London and the south east. The Group consists of PCHA, Pathmeads and Springboard housing associations. It also has a charitable foundation, Genesis Community, and is one of the largest and most successful housing groups in the UK . Genesis Housing Group owns and/or manages more than 40,000 homes across London and the south east. Its overriding aim is to put customers first and provide excellent service to all.

2. St Matthew Housing (SMH) is a registered charity and housing association. SMH provides supported accommodation for single people who are either homeless or unsuitably housed across East Anglia and the East Midlands . SMH also provides resettlement support to enable clients to successfully move on to independent accommodation and floating support to external clients who are in need of housing support. The charity works in a way that enables people to achieve their individual goals, at their own pace and in their own communities.