Foundational film project
The Homemaker
A film-led exploration of James Alexander, founder and director of Trinity Housing Association, and the family history through which his pioneering housing legacy is remembered.
Explore the project
Film / Archive / Education / Community / Legacy
Our stories.
Our heritage.
Our future.
JAHA preserves, researches and shares Black British and Caribbean heritage, recovering overlooked stories and carrying them forward.
Trinity Housing Association charity shop, London, c. 1970. Alexander Archives.
Why JAHA exists
A personal archive with a wider public purpose.
JAHA is rooted in the legacy of James Alexander, founder and director of Trinity Housing Association, which he established in 1969 with a mission to help people facing housing discrimination in Britain secure homes. Through that work, thousands of people found housing, including families and individuals too often excluded from secure accommodation.
Family memory, material evidence and community knowledge come together through film, archive care, learning and public participation.
About JAHAA connected heritage model
Five strands, one lasting body of cultural memory.
Each strand has a distinct purpose and strengthens the others, carrying work from discovery and preservation to interpretation, participation and long-term public value.
- 01
Film
Tell and interpret Black British and Caribbean histories through moving image and creative media.
- 02
Archive
Collect, preserve, catalogue and make heritage accessible while protecting provenance and community ownership.
- 03
Education
Turn heritage into learning, practical skills and intergenerational knowledge.
- 04
Community
Create participatory spaces for people to contribute, connect and be heard.
- 05
Legacy
Secure long-term cultural memory, public recognition and sustainable stewardship.
Featured projects
Film as a route into archive, history and public memory.
The story develops from James Alexander's housing work into two connected film projects and JAHA's wider heritage programme.
Feature documentary
My Father, The Homemaker
A feature documentary in development, expanding the story of James Alexander, founder and director of Trinity Housing Association, through archive research, testimony and a wider cultural history of housing, migration and community.
Explore the projectArchive and publication system
Evidence, context and care create a foundation for public engagement.
Explore the ArchiveWork with JAHA
Help protect community histories and carry them forward.
JAHA welcomes conversations with museums, archives, filmmakers, schools, community organisations, venues, funders and people holding relevant knowledge or material.
Stay connected with JAHA
Receive occasional updates about our films, archive and heritage work, screenings, events, education and community programmes.