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Specialist housing association appoints new interim boss
BAME housing association Arhag has appointed a new interim chief executive to replace outgoing boss Cedric Boston.
Arhag, which focuses on providing housing for refugees and migrants across London, has now appointed Arvinda Gohil as its new boss to replace Mr Boston, who has now left the organisation after four years at the helm.
Mr Boston said he decided to depart after helping the 900-home association through its first phase of transformation to become the “go-to” organisation for migrants and refugees, and will now look to new opportunities.
Ms Gohil has a history of working in housing. She was the founder of the BAME housing movement at Unity and was chief executive at Inquilab, and has held roles at the regulator and the National Housing Federation. She has also served as chief executive of homelessness charity Emmaus.
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She has most recently been chief executive at Community Links, a social action and advocacy charity based in east London, and in June was awarded an OBE for services to the community and housing for vulnerable people.
As part of her role, Ms Gohil will help develop Arhag and its partners’ range of services in providing housing, medical, employment and legal advice, as well as bedding in new partnerships in the group.
Arhag was founded in 1979 to respond to the urgent need for refugee and immigrant housing, it has now grown to own 900 homes across 15 London boroughs.
Ms Gohil said: “I am very pleased to be taking the organisation forward at this exciting time. The foundations for the ‘go-to’ agenda have been firmly laid, it is now for us to build on this and take the project forward.
“We have an unprecedented opportunity to create a strong and powerful offer of support to people looking to make a life for themselves in London.”
Qadeer Kiani, chair of Arhag, said: “We welcome Arvinda to Arhag. With a wealth of knowledge in the sector, working with communities, we are certain she will be able to take the association forward and help us achieve our vision.
“Her skills are ideal for the challenge of ensuring the best housing services are delivered while developing our range of services for migrants and refugees.
“I would also pay tribute to Cedric for his immense contribution over four years.”
Update: at 14.31 on 16.7.19 This story was corrected. In the original story it said that Ms Gohil had been awarded an MBE. Ms Gohil was actually awarded an OBE for services to community and housing for vulnerable people.
