Improving Lives and Communities is the main aim of a new housing strategy launched by the Deputy Minister for Housing and Regeneration, Jocelyn Davies AM.

The document, Improving Lives and Communities – Homes in Wales, brings together separate strategies on meeting housing need, homelessness, and housing-related support services. It sets out the challenges, priorities and actions for the coming years so that more can be done for people, particularly older people and others who may be vulnerable. It also highlights the role that housing plays in the wider economy.

The Deputy Minister visited Taff Housing's Wellington Street Development in Cardiff to see how the new project has benefited families in the area, before the strategy was launched at the TAI 2010 conference at City Hall in Cardiff.

She said: "The strategy provides us with an opportunity to build on what we have already achieved and to do even more together to help people to improve their lives.

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"Housing is so much more than bricks and mortar. Investment in Housing brings with it benefits for the economy, for jobs and training opportunities, for people’s health and well being, and for the environment. It also helps tackle poverty and inequalities and opens up new opportunities for people."

The Deputy Minister also launched the i2i CAN DO Toolkit 2 – SME friendly procurement, a new guide to help Registered Social Landlords ensure that SMEs meet procurement criteria or to ensure that the supply chain includes SMEs. This will build on the first installment of the CAN DO Toolkit which provides guidance on making targeted recruitment and training a requirement of housing contracts.

A report on the first year of the guide, also launched at the conference, shows that 487 job and training opportunities have been created in the twelve organisations that have adopted the model. Projects across the UK, such as the Peace Bridge in Northern Ireland are now following the guidance and using procurement to deliver jobs and training

Ms Davies added: "The Can Do Toolkit is an excellent example of how an innovative approach can bring real benefits and contribute far more than just a roof over people’s heads. I am proud that Wales is leading the way with this and is taking the model further to help small and medium enterprises and local employers to benefit from the investment in housing.

"This is just one of the many housing success stories; an additional 4,235 affordable homes had already been delivered and we are on track to achieve our One Wales target of 6,500; significant progress is being made in meeting the challenge set for all social housing to attain the Welsh Housing Quality Standard by 2012; and the £17 million we have spent on the Mortgage Rescue Scheme has prevented more than 609 adults and 319 children from becoming homeless."

(CD/NS)