We are part of a project aiming to reduce rough sleeping in Worcestershire

We are partners in a Worcestershire scheme that will help rough sleepers get back into permanent accommodation.

Housing First has launched this month and helps those rough sleeping by providing a stable, independent and affordable home, and includes intensive personalised support and case management.

The project does not impose conditions around ‘housing readiness’ before providing an individual with a home – it sees secure housing as a platform to address other issues.

The intensive wrap-around support will help individuals address any needs they have arising from issues such as mental ill health and substance misuse and help them sustain their tenancy in their new home.

Our Director of Care and Support Martyn Hale says: “This is a great initiative which will help those who find themselves sleeping rough across Worcestershire.

“It’s incredibly important that we help those who don’t have a home and support their needs.

“This is an important scheme and it’s fantastic news that funding has been secured for the next three years.

“We are very serious about ending homelessness and we have also signed up to the National Housing Federation’s Commitment to Refer – which is a separate scheme. This commitment helps by ensuring that the relevant local authority is aware of the action we are taking and can provide the both families and individuals with specific advice.”

Up to £435,000 will be invested in the Housing First project.

Worcester City Council and the five district councils across the county led a successful bid for funding from the government for the first year. Additional money from Worcester City Council and Worcester County Council has allowed the funding to be extended for a further two years.

The project is being run as a partnership between our organisation, Worcester City Council, local councils, Public Health, St. Paul’s Hostel and Platform Housing Group.

St Paul’s Hostel, based in Worcester, is providing the staffing for the Housing First service, utilising their experience of running Psychologically Informed Environments and Trauma Informed Care.

The pilot will support more than 30 rough sleepers across Worcestershire with the aim of helping them to end their rough sleeping for good.

Councillor Marc Bayliss, Leader of Worcester City Council, adds: “Housing First is the latest and most ambitious new service to tackle rough sleeping across Worcestershire. It will build on other initiatives launched in our city and county in recent years, and we hope will make a significant and lasting contribution to reducing rough sleeping.”

Housing First is an approach to helping rough sleepers get back into long-term accommodation that has been tried in countries around the world. Evidence from the US, Denmark, France and Italy among others shows it has been successful in providing rough sleepers with the support they need to get off the streets and to rebuild their lives.

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