Barnsbury Housing  Association was formed in May 1967 by a group of local professionals including an architect, a surveyor, a structural engineer, a solicitor, an accountant etc., all of whom had an interest in social housing.  In those days there was a housing shortage and such groups were encouraged to form housing associations to develop social housing to help supplement local authorities with an alternative form of public housing.  Up until 1974, such groups of professionals could claim fees for the work they carried out.  In our case not all the professionals claimed their full fees and today our Board (apart from the Chief Executive) is made up of entirely of voluntary members who give their time freely and receive no remuneration.