Posted 29.12.16
Birmingham City Council: Article link
Birmingham City Council and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council have successfully bid for £400,000 of government funding to help get people new to the streets the rapid support that they need.
The Rough Sleeping Grant will be used to support people by offering them a safe place to sleep, physical and mental health checks and substance misuse screening.
Work will be co-ordinated through a team of nurses, substance misuse workers and housing and support officers and will link to existing outreach and other service providers.
Two new posts will be funded to support those vulnerable to rough sleeping after being discharged from hospitals. Funding will also be given to a new assessment and triage night shelter.
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Posted 19.12.16
IPPR: Article link
This report explains how the current provision of unsupported temporary accommodation holds back households from securing permanent accommodation and living independently.
It also recommends how current practice can be reformed to improve their experiences and more effectively assist them to move into more secure accommodation.
This report is the third and final publication from a three-year research project into unsupported temporary accommodation.
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Posted 16.12.16
Department for Communities and Local Government: Article link
This publication provides information on the number of households that reported being homeless (or threatened with homelessness) to their local authority and were offered housing assistance.
It shows that:
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Posted 08.12.16
Tracey Lees, Chief Executive of Wandle: Blog link
This November marked the 50th anniversary of Ken Loach's gritty 1966 drama, Cathy Come Home. The film put British society under the microscope and changed the game forever.
In her blog, Tracey Lees reflects on how it is shocking, and a remarkable testament to the work housing associations and others still do, that so many of the film's scenes ring true with people today.
She comments that, 50 years on, we face the greatest housing crisis since the end of the Second World War and it is housing associations who are coming together to tackle homelessness.
She also highlights the Homes for Cathy Group, of which Wandle is be part of, which is a national alliance of housing associations from across the UK helping to raise awareness of the needs of homeless people. The group will be hosting a series of events across the UK over the coming months.