£7M PLAN TO HELP HOMELESS:
£7m ‘bespoke’ support to help homeless
HOMELESS people in Stoke-on-trent will receive ‘bespoke’ support to get back on their feet – as part of a new £7 million package of services.
Destination: Home will see a consortium of partners deliver a round-the-clock service aimed at addressing people’s immediate needs, as well as tackling the underlying issues causing their homelessness.
The intergrated model, which was launched this week, brings together five services previously commissioned separately by Stoke-on-trent City Council – covering prevention, intervention and recovery.
Homeless people will each be assigned a service co-ordinator who will stay with them and help with emergency accommodation, mental health support, tenancy skills support, job training, and recovery and rehab programmes.
Destination: Home is part of a wider package of services which will cost the council £1.4 million a year, for up to five years. It does not include the rough sleeper service, which is commissioned separately.
The consortium is being led by homelessness charity Concrete, formerly known as Arch North Staffs. Other partners include Adullam Homes Housing Association, North Staffs Mind, Changes: Health and Wellbeing and WALK Ministries.
Diane Thompson, chief executive of Concrete’s parent company Honeycomb Group, said “This is a great opportunity for Concrete, in partnership with the city council and our fantastic local providers, to have a real impact across the city. By working to support local people to get the right housing and support for their needs, we will together make lasting change.”
Sarah Forshaw, head of homelessness, housing and complex needs at Concrete, added: “What has been created is very exciting for us, we need to tackle the root causes of homelessness in order to build concrete futures.
“Our work with our partners will bring about a movement of both prevention and support that works with people throughout their journey to ensure they can live happily, safely and for the long-term in a home of their own.”
Council leader Abi Brown says the new service will build on efforts to bring rough sleepers off the streets during the pandemic.
She said: “We’re committed to ensuring this work continues, and Concrete and other partners will have a significant role to play in this.
“We understand that people who are homeless often have other complex issues that also need addressing, so Concrete’s approach is important in providing tailored services.”
Alison Sargent, chief executive of Adullam Houses Housing Association, added: “AHHA is delighted to work with like-minded partners who share the desire to innovate and deliver services that make a difference to people’s lives.
“Through the design of bespoke coordinated plans for the individual, we will create hope and transform lives for the long term.”