Vincent Housing Association Limited
Vincent House is owned by Vincent Housing Association (VHA), a socially and environmentally responsible organisation that is registered as an Industrial & Provident Society. The business of VHA is the responsibility of a Committee of Management that aims to ensure that Vincent House is sustainable and financially viable in accordance with the Association's objects. All profits are reinvested in Vincent House or used to develop associate projects and help voluntary organisations or other social enterprises working with aspects of homelessness.

Vincent House was built in 1939 by Vincent House Limited under the leadership of Alice Roughton. Alice's grand-mother, Evelyn Hopkinson, had previously established two earlier residences in Westminster - Hopkinson House and Brabazon House, both of which were eventually sold to the local authority. Although the principles of Evelyn Hopkinson and, subsequently, Alice Roughton were primarily philanthropic they set up the houses to be run on business lines and enable shareholders to be paid a reasonable dividend.

Vincent House quickly attracted residents from its opening in March 1940 even though World War Two had started a few months earlier. As a result most of the early residents were men and women working in government or military posts and the House continued to attract civil servants working in London for many years following the war.

In 1964 Vincent House was under threat from predators keen to acquire the attractively located property and, in order to protect the House, Vincent Housing Association Limited (VHA) was formed. During the decades that followed VHA built upon the House's early achievements and started to attract an increasingly diverse range of people to stay at the House. The House continued to be the Association's sole activity until the late 1990's, when its solid foundation and sustained success meant the Association was in a position to be able to invest in further properties.

In 1998 VHA completed the purchase of a dilapidated supermarket in Hayes, Middlesex for the development of a project with Yeldall Homeless Projects, which has since been re-named Trinity Homeless Projects. Trinity leases the property at a 'peppercorn rent' and manages the scheme, which includes shared accommodation for up to 7 individuals, as well as training and employment in the retail unit, which recycles second hand furniture, clothing and household items, for a wide range of vulnerable people.

In 1999 VHA agreed to acquire a property on behalf of The Stepping Stones Trust to provide a home for ex-offenders. It took over two years to find a suitable property and in 2001 a house previously used as a bed & breakfast was acquired in South Croydon. A low-rent lease was agreed with Stepping Stones to enable them to focus their resources on providing support and managing the scheme.

In recent years VHA has also made many donations (ranging from £1000 to £25,000) to organisations involved in working in the field of homelessness, including Shelter, The House of St Barnabas, Riverpoint, The Big Issue Foundation and many others and has also deposited funds with The Charity Bank.

VHA's current chairman, Geoffrey Roughton, has a particular interest in social entrepreneurship as applied to the provision of housing, reflecting the fact that both his mother, Alice Roughton, and his great grandmother, Evelyn Hopkinson, were early exponents of the principles.

Currently the Association is reviewing its plans and considering the options for further development activities. This may include adding to its property portfolio, further support for charitable and social enterprises or investing in other solutions that help homelessness.