Respond has been in operation for over 40 years, during which it has made a name for itself in the development of sustainable communities and providing living spaces of high quality for families across the globe.
Building More Than Homes
At Respond, new tenants are not handed just a set of keys but are made part of a well-structured community. Respond’s method is unique in that each home is part of a carefully planned community. Each area’s specific requirements are considered when providing the housing service delivery model, ensuring that support is offered uniformly and of high quality, starting from the individual’s entry into their new home and lasting throughout their lifetime. Each house is equipped with basic amenities such as flooring and wardrobes to help new tenants settle in faster and in a more comfortable manner.
Plans for Extensive Growth
In the forthcoming months, Respond has grand plans to grow its number of social and cost rental homes, symbolising a crucial period of expansion. Respond’s growth schemes are supported by Local Authorities and firmly set contracts with leading developers. Currently, Respond is working on constructing 2,069 homes across the country, with an additional 1,950 homes set to begin construction soon. Each of these homes forms a core part of Respond’s grand scheme to inflate their social and cost rental homes on mixed tenure developments to address the housing shortage.
A critical component of this expansion is their ‘urban village’ conceptualisation theory, which aims to develop small, combined neighbourhoods within larger urban environments. These developments aim to encourage diverse, pedestrian-friendly, and robust communities by creating a balance between residential, commercial, and public spaces. This modern take on urban planning strives to boost the resident’s quality of life and foster lively, unified communities.
All homes constructed by Respond are of premium quality and design, using their team of registered architects, technicians, quantity surveyors, and construction managers who collaborate with leading developers such as Cairn Homes, Ardstone Homes, and Bluemont Developments to deliver urgently needed homes. Presently, the organisation has over two thousand homes under construction, the most recent of which has just commenced in Finglas (Dublin). This project will contribute 597 homes built as per Passiv Haus’s standards (a construction standard that is energy efficient, affordable, comfortable, and environmental simultaneously), making it one of Europe’s biggest schemes designed to meet such high-quality specifications.
Respond’s Service Delivery Model is unique and ensures that they are working to meet housing needs consistently.
Respond is known for its unique delivery model for housing services for its tenants. Using a method informed by understanding trauma, it quickly and locally makes decisions for the best interest of the tenants. This model’s flexibility and responsiveness enable Respond to cater adequately to its diverse tenants’ needs. Also, Respond’s Family and Community Support Services provide support when required.
A priority for the organisation is to enhance the communities they serve and aid tenants in creating connections with local community groups and services. Engaging with local schools, GAA clubs, and other community institutions, Respond helps tenants feel a rapid sense of belonging and pride with their new environment.
Always innovating, Respond takes pride in being an organisation that encourages learning and attentiveness to tenant feedback, which at a noteworthy 92% tenant satisfaction rate has been independently verified by Behaviour and Attitudes. Their innovative and inquisitive nature can be seen in their approach to constant improvement. A fruitful partnership with Trinity College’s Global Brain Health Institute resulted in the development of the Brain Health Village at a Respond estate in Baltinglass, Co Wicklow. This project has garnered recognition, winning the 2024 Chartered Institute of Housing award for Excellence in Health and Wellbeing.
The goal of the Brain Health Village is to display how top-notch housing, supportive environments, and robust communities that encourage creativity, healthiness, and social connection can bring about long-term benefits to brain health. Introducing tenants and the broader community to the concept of brain health is the initial step, alongside establishing a framework for a brain health-friendly setting and setting short and medium-term targets. The project is currently managed at the local level by the Housing team who engage with tenants on a daily basis. Respond and the Global Brain Health Institute are teaming up to monitor the project’s implementation process and results.
Respond also applies its forward-thinking approach to workplace culture, fostering innovation and internal entrepreneurship while offering staff opportunities to spearhead and develop new projects. A supportive environment is maintained, focusing on coaching, empowerment, and shared growth.
The housing department is led by Neil Bolton, the Director of Housing, assisted by John O’Sullivan, Head of Tenant Experience, and Ciaran Andrews, Head of Strategic Asset Management. Recruitment is always ongoing.
As Respond continues to grow, they are actively seeking professionals with expertise in housing, assets and estate management who are committed to delivering quality services to their customers. The ideal candidate is someone who has leadership skills, is open to embrace novel approaches, and excited about aiding teams to prosper. The Housing Team is presently looking to fill a critical position on their Leadership team, the role of Head of Estate Services. The aim is to bring onboard an inventive leader with a track record of success, to make certain that the public spaces surrounding the homes become locations where all residents have the pleasure of spending their time.
Respond is more than just a housing provider, it is at the forefront of building communities, pioneering new ideas, and plays a key role in shaping a promising future for Ireland. So, whether you’re seeking a comfortable home or a rewarding career, Respond provides an exclusive opportunity full of potential.