In March 2022 we announced our plans to merge Optivo and Southern Housing Group to create Southern Housing. Over the following months we engaged with residents, colleagues and our external partners on the potential merger, which completed on 16 December 2022.
Having joined the two organisations together, we’ve a great opportunity to expand our positive impact. Both our legacy organisations come from similar roots, our founders were dedicated to helping families with a housing need.
As Southern Housing, we’re continuing that strong commitment to social purpose and putting residents at the heart of everything we do.
Read more in our Annual Review 2022-23.
Our news
All Articles![JR2 1](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/rhrfgosj/jr2-1.jpg?width=500&height=290&rnd=133657789149500000)
![Karin Wildlife](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/z3pdjcpr/karin-wildlife.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133656227134500000)
![P49 Social Karin Stockerl2](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/kb2df51c/p49socialkarinstockerl2.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133638748773570000)
![Election Campaign 2](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/o3whrymb/election-campaign2.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133625836742930000)
![Election Campaign 1B](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/b2beux5j/election-campaign1b.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133618893751370000)
![P49 Social Chris Middleton2](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/jp0bfor3/p49socialchrismiddleton2.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133613751726430000)
![P49 Social Lily Monk2](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/0cmhhlbm/p49sociallilymonk2.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133607703916030000)
![P49 Social Paul Hackett2 1](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/g3yn0ryc/p49socialpaulhackett2-1.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133580027801100000)
![P49 Social Kara Tomas Meek2](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/jv0bqbub/p49socialkaratomasmeek2.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133591379293630000)
![P49 Social Tina Edwards2](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/u5dd2z2d/p49socialtinaedwards2.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133560201740630000)
- 19 April 2024
Blog: Navigating cultural integration - Building a unified identity at Southern Housing
![P49 Social Amy Singh2](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/4vljrxe5/p49socialamysingh2.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133572232997630000)
![P49 Social Jane Campbell2](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/eh2g1pvs/p49socialjanecampbell2.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133554252621870000)
![P49 Social Paul Hackett2 1](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/g3yn0ryc/p49socialpaulhackett2-1.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133580027801100000)
![P49 Social Troy Francis2](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/wjeokdfr/p49socialtroyfrancis2.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133547080216330000)
![P49 Social William Miller2](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/ghvnq52q/p49socialwilliammiller2.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133580027774470000)
![P49 Social Vanessa Biddiss2](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/0ajhtu3y/p49socialvanessabiddiss2.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133541011150330000)
![1708966909647 7D18188f Db2a 48E4 8957 C386dbe81160 1](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/2f4o21rd/1708966909647-7d18188f-db2a-48e4-8957-c386dbe811601.jpg?width=500&height=290&rnd=133534405692030000)
![P49 Social Paul Day2](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/xnijhy5x/p49socialpaulday2.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133534402785930000)
![Douglas Silverstone](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/e3zjd14h/douglas-silverstone.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133580043250130000)
![Puneet Rajput](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/q45dodok/puneet-rajput.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133580043231870000)
![Helena Ingham](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/teklkk0j/helena-ingham.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133580046501200000)
- 06 February 2024
Blog: A merging opinion - they work best when residents are at their heart
![Jenny Poore](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/mm4c1idh/jenny-poore.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133580043217670000)
![Brea Attrill](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/f2lo33vh/brea-attrill.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133580043161870000)
![Colin Lydon (1)](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/khmo0vou/colin-lydon.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133580043205870000)
![Mij Rahman](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/2qndqgkz/mij-rahman.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133580043194000000)
![Dave Burton](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/q42pkf33/dave-burton.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133580043189000000)
- 09 January 2024
- Resident Involvement
Blog: The Resident Scrutiny Panel – our year one journey
![Naomi Keyte](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/imgbfxyd/naomi-keyte.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133580043176130000)
- 09 January 2024
Blog: Listening to and acting upon residents’ feedback to shape our care services
![Yvette Carter](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/fyhau4rp/yvette-carter.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133580043264530000)
![Image00009 Flipped](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/1kagm0cx/image00009-flipped.jpg?width=500&height=290&rnd=133208609138600000)
![P49 Social Paul Hackett2 1](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/g3yn0ryc/p49socialpaulhackett2-1.png?width=500&height=290&rnd=133580027801100000)
![Featured in the photo (from left to right): Bunmi Atta (Director of Construction at Southern Housing), Mike Link (Chair of the ABE CLT), Cllr Michael Warden (Chair of Aldingbourne Parish Council) and Steve Underwood (Development Manager at Southern Housing).](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/acnhrv33/wings-nursery-high.jpg?rxy=0.08145363408521303,0.7471764988585846&width=500&height=290&rnd=133471345353970000)
![2DLP8969](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/yzgllymc/2dlp8969.jpg?width=500&height=290&rnd=133395968711900000)
![Milestone At Southwark Development](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/tohml0or/milestone-at-southwark-development.jpg?width=500&height=290&rnd=133392622845600000)
![Rosemary House](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/t0zje5dj/rosemary-house.jpg?width=500&height=290&rnd=133341649151700000)
![The Mannings](https://www.southernhousing.org.uk/media/l3ndv3w4/the-mannings.jpg?width=500&height=290&rnd=133335650371030000)