CSR AT SDH

SDH has been committed to CSR since 2005 and has published CSR reports since 2008. Its current corporate plan, “United to 2016”, is built upon CSR principles and the 5 dimensions of the EURHO-GR® framework. It includes precise CSR objectives which are translated into concrete actions, regularly monitored by managers.

In order to support continuous improvement, SDH’s CSR maturity is assessed every year since 2011 by an external auditor, through an evaluation scheme based on the ISO 26000 standard; in December 2013, SDH scored 649 out of 1,000.

OBJECTIVE

To prevent non-dependent elderly tenants’ autonomy loss and enhance their well-being through partnerships and a global ageing strategy to deliver adapted dwellings and services.

CONTEXT

The share of people aged 60 and over will keep increasing in France up to 2035, to reach 31% of the global population. In 2035, people aged 75 and over will likely represent 13.6% of the population (8.5% in 2007).

Ageing represents a major societal issue, in particular in terms of adapting the living environment (flat, district, town), considering that 90% of seniors prefer, when possible, adapting their dwelling, rather than entering a nursing home.

SDH manages mainly family flats. 20% of its tenants are 65 years old and older. “Senior housing” has therefore become a strategic project for SDH. 

DESCRIPTION OF THE GOOD PRACTICE

Top managers’ strategic thinking on the housing offer and their cooperation with other social housing providers through the DELPHIS network led to the development of a national framework: the “Habitat (Housing) Senior Services® ” Label (HSS®).

Based on the results of an extensive tenants’ survey, this standard aims to increase non-dependent elderly tenants’ access to both adequate housing, adapted to their needs (technical dimension), and services (social dimension). It was designed as a tool to help housing providers define a strategic ageing policy, and implement it on a large scale. It includes a series of requirements and technical specifications, around 3 commitments:

• Adapting the dwelling’s surroundings and shared areas
• Ensuring a suitable, comfortable and secure dwelling
• Providing access to local services (social activities, individual care, … ) through partnerships with municipality services and associations.

SDH’s objective is to adapt 100 dwellings a year as per the label’s criteria. HSS® flats are located in “intergenerational estates”, which combine flats for seniors and usual family flats. This mix encourages both social ties and solidarity between tenants, supported by a “Good neighbour Charter” signed by all tenants, who thereby commit to provide mutual support in daily life.

 

Key results and benefits

• 20 intergenerational estates
• 218 “HSS®” flats (compliant with the label’s criteria)
• 550 flats adapted in the last 20 years
• 1st Social Housing provider to receive the “HSS +” label
• Enhanced tenants’ autonomy and well-being, in a suitable, accessible and affordable flat
• Increased ability to live together, thanks to generational diversity in the estate
• Savings for local authorities due to delayed or avoided stays in nursing homes