January 2025

We're proud to support our residents celebrating the Lunar New Year with a donation, which will involve tasty Vietnamese cuisine and a lively dragon dance with traditional music.

Celebrations began on Wednesday, 29 January, with two weeks of parties, traditional customs, feasts, and fireworks. 2025 is the Year of the Snake, symbolising renewal and regeneration, shedding bad energy and transforming.

Unlike Housing Benefit, rent payments under Universal Credit are not automatically paid to us. Some people have fallen behind on rent without realising.

We're here to help. 

Please let us know if you are on Universal Credit and want it paid directly to us. If you have received a letter from us saying you're in arrears, please call us on 0300 131 7300 or email IncomeTeam@isha.co.uk as soon as possible.

This quarter, you reported improvements in every area you were asked about, and we were really pleased to see that overall satisfaction has increased.

You told us you were happier with our repairs service and the maintenance of your home, and you said you feel respected and fairly treated, too. 

Your feedback is so helpful to us in seeing what’s going well and also in telling us where we should focus our efforts in the future.

The current cost for a parking permit is £115, and renewals are due in January. 

The easiest way to renew your permit is through our parking portal.

If you have questions, email Neighbourhoods@isha.co.uk or call 0300 131 7300 and select option 5. 

We'll be holding a further review and consultation soon. If you would like to register to take part, please email Involvement@isha.co.uk.

In partnership with HACT, we're offering energy vouchers to be used with a prepayment meter.

The vouchers can be used at PayPoint locations to top up your account if you're struggling. The vouchers are accepted by most suppliers, although not British Gas. 

Funding is limited, so be quick. Email Outreach@isha.co.uk or call 0300 131 7300 for more information.

If you live in Hackney and meet the requirements we can also apply for a £100 voucher through a council scheme.

Have you seen our guide to help you keep safe and warm this winter (PDF, 1.4mb)?

Just before Christmas, we collaborated with the Felix Project and the housing association support charity HACT to distribute free food that might otherwise have been wasted.

At our first free food market, we had lots of fresh produce, including delicious raspberries, bananas, vegetables, and fresh milk. A community kitchen in Hoxton collected unclaimed food and cooked meals for those in need.

We realise that the need for support isn’t just at Christmas. If you struggle to make ends meet, contact our Outreach Team for advice.

If you have a smartphone, apps like Olio and Too Good to Go offer free or reduced-price food.