WIREDGOV

Flint announces next steps to link housing advice and opportunities

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT News Release (071) issued by The Government News Network on 20 March 2008

Housing Minister Caroline Flint announced a package of measures today to step-up action to tackle worklessness, promote opportunity and strengthen the link between access to housing services, training and jobs.

Speaking at a Housing Corporation stakeholder event on worklessness Caroline Flint announced how £70 million will be allocated to 69 homeless projects across England to ensure that those getting hostel accommodation are also supported and encouraged to find employment. Projects include training for residents to learn practical skills from catering to sound engineering, through to self-financing social enterprises such as cafes and furniture making. There will be help for homeless people to set up their own social enterprises - from a farm in West Dorset, a Sports Academy in Gateshead to a surfing school in Newquay.

Caroline Flint said:

"Over the past three years, the Places of Change programme has helped transform derelict dormitories into places which genuinely transform the lives of homeless people - breaking cycles of chaos and dependency and helping people rebuild their lives through training, volunteering and working. The number of formerly homeless people moving into independent living is up by thirty per cent as a result. We will now be measuring success through the numbers moving into training and work."

At a major meeting of housing providers, stakeholders and the Housing Corporation in London, the minister also announced:-

* A prospectus inviting 15 local authorities to pioneer an enhanced "housing options" service. Moving away from a one-size fits all approach, these services will offer advice about all the options on offer - from social housing to private sector renting and low cost home ownership. Advice won't be restricted to housing, but will also look at people's overall circumstances - whether they need advice on childcare, training, or employment. This approach is already working successfully for those at risk of becoming homeless, but now the principles will help people in need before they reach crisis point.

* A new Employment Academy for London by Thames Reach will help hundreds of rough sleepers and homeless people into education, training and employment. To be funded by £4million of new investment and based south of the Thames, it will include employment advice, activities, skills training and social enterprise helping homeless people learn new skills. There will a social enterprise restaurant providing support and skills training as well as meals, run by chef Simon Boyle. It will also provide business start-up advice and fund training in painting, decorating and maintenance for teams of 'handymen' employed by Lambeth Council.

* Two new stakeholder groups headed by independent experts in the housing sector looking at potential incentives, obligations and support for those entering social housing to help them take up employment. Jane Slowey, Chief Executive of the Foyer Federation, will lead the 'Incentives and Obligations' policy group. June Barnes will head the 'Housing Support' group which will look at support tenants may need to move into work and how this might best be delivered.

* The CIH will develop good practice guidance for housing providers on tackling worklessness, sponsored by the Housing Corporation.

Caroline Flint said:

"The debate that I started a few weeks ago will continue over the coming months. And the more that I've talked to those working in the sector, the more impressed I've been with the work that is already going on to try and address these issues; social landlords are getting involved in a whole range of activities not just to tackle worklessness, but to overcome economic inequality and promote social mobility."

The Minister also spoke of the challenges facing those living in social housing - like the number of young people coming into social housing at risk of slipping into the intergenerational inactivity experienced by their parents and grandparents, as well as families - particularly those in work but on low wages - who are finding it almost impossible to access social housing.

The announcements come as for the first time since 1983, 2007 saw more social houses built than lost through Right to Buy.
She continued:

"2007 was the first time since 1983 that we built more social houses than we lost through Right to Buy. And now, as we embark on a major programme which will replenish the stock of social housing - with 45,000 social homes to be built every year from 2010, for the first time in thirty years or more we can set our ambitions higher- beyond simply worrying about how we allocate an increasingly finite resource but thinking more deeply about the role of social housing and how we ensure it offers the springboard to opportunity that was available to previous generations."

As John Hills made clear in his 2007 report in 2004 a third of people living in social housing had incomes within the poorest fifth of the income distribution. Latest statistics show that over half of working age social tenants are workless compared to 34 per cent in 1981. For young people entering the sector, the picture is even worse: 80% of new RSL tenants aged 16-24 are without work.

Note to Editors

The Places of Change Programme (PCP) is a 3 year programme which will run from 2008 to 2011. It builds on the success of the 2005-08 Hostels Capital Improvement Programme (HCIP). PCP aims to continue to improve the services available to rough sleepers so they can make the transition from the street to a settled home; to increase the number of people moving on from their hostel or homelessness service in a positive way; and to increase the number moving into education and employment.

Jenny Edwards, Chief Executive of Homeless Link, the national umbrella organisation for frontline homelessness agencies, said:

"We know that there is great talent, expertise and potential in the people who use homelessness services. This funding provides opportunities for truly innovative projects that will inspire people to move away from the streets for good. Homeless Link looks forward to working not only with those projects that were successful in this funding round, but with all those that embrace the ethos of the Places of Change Programme. "

Full list of projects:

EAST

Cambridge City Council
Wintercomfort
The day centre will use the funding to create a social enterprise in the form of an arts and crafts business where homeless people make products for sale to local people, learning new skills as well as opportunities for paid employment.
David.Greening@cambridge.gov.uk, 01223 457997

Cambridge City Council
Jimmy's Night Shelter
The funding will help replace a basement crypt dormitory with top class accommodation and training for residents.
as above

Fenland District Council
The Ferry Project
The funding will help replace dormitory provision with single rooms and upgraded facilities
Tim Mills - timmills@fenland.gov.uk Phone:01354 622401

Luton Borough Council
The Ark
Flagship scheme from award winning organisation combining upgraded accommodation with a social enterprise in the form of a major business in furniture and white goods where homeless people are given training and employment opportunities in restoring furniture and retail experience.
Michael.mcmahon@luton.gov.uk 01582 546201

St Albans & District
Open Door
The funding will help replace dormitory provision in a nightshelter with single rooms and training facilities.
mark.janes@hertscc.gov.uk, 01707 280 653

Watford Borough Council
Watford New Hope Trust
The funding will be used to create more accommodation to assist with a "Community detox" programme for drink and drug users
LA contact lesley.palumbo@watford.gov.uk Phone: 01923 278156, Press - Mark Jeffery email mark.jeffery@watford.gov.uk 01923 278392

East Midlands

Northampton Borough Council
Robinson House
The funding will replace dormitory accommodation with a new flagship hostel and on site day centre. The project will bring together many voluntary agencies to work together to deliver training and education facilities at the hostel.
LA - Fran Rodgers - frodgers@northampton.gov.uk , 01604 837837, Press contact - Sian Williams, Public Relations and Marketing Manager 01604 837393

Bassetlaw District Council
Potter Street
The funding will be used to refurbish the hostel, including areas for engagement activities such as a new gym and a music studio. The scheme will also provide accredited training courses linked to the Learning Power award.
Graham.Jackson@bassetlaw.gov.uk , (01909) 533730

City of Lincoln
The Pathways Centre
The funding will replace dormitory provision with single rooms in a small hostel in Lincoln. Energetic and committed charity.
Helen.Ritchie@lincoln.gov.uk , 01522 873855, Press - Anna Edlin anna.edlin@lincoln.gov.uk, 01522 873 443

Derby City Council
YMCA Derbyshire
The funding will provide purpose built accommodation and training facilities for young homeless people. Their employment programmes have been adapted to fit the regeneration of Derby - moving from construction to retail and hospitality to logistics. They also receive Learning and Skills Council and Job Centre Plus funding.
lisa.callow@derby.gov.uk, 01332 256487

Derby City Council
Skylight Enterprises
Working with STRIDE - a successful social enterprise from Leicester - they will convert an old hall once used to provide dormitory accommodation for homeless people into a workshop making top end furniture - http://www.leicesterstride.co.uk/
Homeless people will be given opportunities to develop skills in furniture making.
as above

Leicester City Council
Leicester YMCA
The funding will be used to develop a theatre in the heart of a hostel to offer training and jobs in all aspects of the theatre, for example lighting and stage management, as well as more customer focused roles such as front of house reception and bar stewarding.
Pat Hobbs Service Director
(Accommodation and Tenancy Support).
Tele No: 0116 -252 6812
Email address pat.hobbs@leicester.gov.uk or, Toni Soni

London

City of London
The Lodge House
Cutting edge idea to get some of the most entrenched rough sleepers in central London off the streets. A low threshold scheme which offers 'light touch' key working from a "landlady" and staff team. This aims to overcome the resistance from some rough sleepers to ever going inside a hostel by dropping many of the 'rules' of hostels and work with residents informally.

Davina Lilley - davina.lilley@cityoflondon.gov.uk , 020 7332 1994, Jim Barber, Head of Needs and Resources 0207 332 3141 james.barber@cityoflondon.gov.uk

Lambeth & Southwark
The Employment Academy
A new Employment Academy for London will help hundreds of rough sleepers and homeless people into education, training and employment. To be funded by £4million of new investment and based south of the Thames, it will include employment advice, classroom-based activities, skills training and a restaurant run as a social enterprise helping homeless people learn new skills. It will also provide business start-up advice and fund training in painting, decorating and maintenance for teams of 'handymen' who could be employed by Lambeth Council.

Lambeth - Michelle Binfield, 020 7926 4610, Southwark - Johnathan Lullingstone, jonathan.lillistone@southwark.gov.uk, 02075252940

LB Camden
SHP Dennis Handfield House
The funding will refurbish a Kings Cross hostel to include a new cafe and training kitchen which will be open to the public and give residents training and employment opportunities.
karen.swift@camden.gov.uk 020 7974 2811, Press office - Sarah Hutchens. 0207 974 6022.

LB Redbridge
Redbridge Places of Change Partnership
Upgrading dormitory accommodation and day centre.
Lara Crombie - 0208 708 4065, Lara.Crombie@redbridge.gov.uk Gail Lincoln Gail.Lincoln@redbridge.gov.uk

LB Westminster
Westway Business Centre
St Mungo's will create a new workshop which will provide training to homeless people to make furniture for their hostels
Richard Williams - rwilliams@westminster.gov.uk 020 7641 2473

LB Westminster
Passage House
The upgraded hostel will include an "adult foyer" with the same 'commitment contract' as foyers for young people but for older homeless people. Residents will commit to entering training and work as part of their tenancy.
as above

LB Westminster
Berwick Street
Foremost Young persons hostel in London (where Prince William volunteers) - we will replace shared rooms with modern accommodation. The funding will be used to create a Learning Zone in the basement as part of Centrepoint's "Foundations for life" partnership with Land Aid where young people can learn the skills needed for moving on into employment.
as above

LB Westminster
Shroton Street
The funding will upgrade the kitchens of a hostel based in Marylebone. The new facilities will enable residents to be trained in cooking and food preparation.
as above

LB Westminster
Victoria House, Castle Lane
Upgrading the reception of a large hostel in Westminster to provide a less institutional atmosphere. It will be moved to the heart of their training suite to maximise engagement.
as above

LB Westminster
King George's Hostel
Medical room in an effective Westminster hostel.
as above

London Borough of Brent
Pound Lane
84 bed first stage hostel. This may be the most striking design for a hostel ever planned. Churchill-Hui architects have aimed for an inspirational transformation of this traditional building in Brent. It will have an open activity space, atriums for music and arts and a community centre.
Manjul Shah
Head of Affordable Housing Development
0208 937 2523
manjul2.shah@brent.gov.uk

London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
The Beef Kitchen
Single homeless ex-servicemen living beside Chelsea football club came up with an idea to sell food to passing football fans on match days. This will buy them a mobile unit to go to other games and also provide a permanent cafe in a park in Putney so they can offer permanent employment contracts and training.
Rachel Soni - Rachel.Soni@lbhf.gov.uk , 0208 753 1723

London Borough of Lambeth
"Young Olds" scheme
Innovative new scheme to work with individuals between 40-55 who have needs more commonly associated with people post retirement age - e.g. dementia, Korsakoffs andor mobility.. The scheme will provide meaningful activities and support to help these people to move on positively.
Aly Bingham - 020 7926 5156, abingham@lambeth.gov.uk

London Borough of Lambeth
Centrepoint Stamford Street
The funding will help to improve the physical environment of a hostel for young homeless people. The hostel will also provide a learning zone which will help residents to gain the skills and confidence needed in order to enter employment and / or education.
as above

London Borough of Lambeth
Thames Reach - Vauxhall Cross
The funding will help to regenerate the Vauxhall Cross hostel removing the institutional and disempowering atmosphere, and will also provide facilities for life skills and training.
as above

London Borough of Newham
Anchor House (AH)
Funding will be used to expand schemes to help homeless people into training and work. They will create a construction skills training shop. They will work in partnership with Toynbee HA to create traineeships in "facilities management"(cleaning, concierge) and "contracts management"(maintenance etc) and develop a social enterprise catering business to help homeless people into training and work.
Jackie.Belton@newham.gov.uk, 020 8430 2000 x35002

London Borough of Waltham Forest
Branches - Waltham Forest Churches Night Shelter
Co-funding with Housing Corporation to replace an old-style night shelter with single room accommodation and pro-active services.
reggie.glover@walthamforest.gov.uk , 020 8496 5547

North East

Gateshead and South Tyneside
Tyneside Cyrenians - Direct Access Residential Service
The funding will help develop a new Sports Academy and direct access hostel in partnership with the local authority
ianramshaw@gateshead.gov.uk 0191 4332491

Middlesborough Council
STAGES Move on Academy
The funding will create a major community resource within a deprived area, creating a health centre, community radio station and gym within a hostel for homeless people.
LA - Lynda_Harrington@middlesbrough.gov.uk 01642 729153, or Alan_Hunter@middlesbrough.gov.uk

Newcastle upon Tyne
Byker Bridge
Fantastic and innovative scheme to set up a series of social enterprises run and peopled by service users - One such example is a fruit juice making business.
neil.munslow@newcastle.gov.uk 0191 2115856 / 07855828048,

North West

Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council
Crewe YMCA
Leaders in the field of engaging young homeless people. The funding will be used to develop construction training, a music & performance space and a gym.
amanda.boffey@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk, 01270 537 788

Burnley Borough Council
Emmaus Burnley
Funding a new Emmaus Community. Emmaus has a unique model whereby the accommodation is tied to a social business. Every day a resident will either drive vans for collection of goods; restore and rebuild furniture; sort bric-a brac, books etc; sell goods on the retail floor; work in the bistro attached to the shop and do other jobs around the community. Each activity brings with it vocational qualifications and on-the-job training. The income generated pays for the running of the community and the aim is to exist without statutory income including benefits.
Rob Stepheson robs@carlisle.gov.uk, 01228 817 217, Press - Jo Osborne
Communications Manager
Tel (01228) 817534

Carlisle City Council
Women's Hostel
The funding will upgrade accommodation in a women's hostel and new advice and training services including helping women enter the construction trade.
Paul Simpson - p.simpson@chester.gov.uk, 01244 402 586

Chester City Council
Crispin House DA Hostel
The funding will upgrade hostel accommodation from dormitories to single rooms and develop services such as medical centre and education/training facilities.
Sheelagh O'Brien
Housing Policy Officer
Sobrien@lancaster.gov.uk
Tel 01524 405837 Mob 07769602589

Lancaster City Council
Doorstep Supported Accommodation Scheme
Funding will create an expanded YMCA accommodation scheme within a deprived Morecambe area to meet local need and a new Community Radio Station, gym and training facilities
Mick Pullan - m.pullan@manchester.gov.uk - 0161 234 5335. Press Office - Juliet Appleby ( 016 234 3237 - j.appleby@manchester.gov.uk)

Manchester
Rebuilding Lives
Small capital grants scheme helping projects all across Manchester. An example of a project funded is the Limes Hostel where a grant of £6,000 was provided to create an activities room. This has enabled a variety of training and therapeutic activities to be offered on site.
Corinne Waterfield c.waterfield@manchester.gov.uk - 0161 234 4115

Manchester
Docherty House
An upgrade of a hostel for heavy drinkers including a recycling project, training facilities and art installations.
Mick Pullan - m.pullan@manchester.gov.uk - 0161 234 5335

Manchester
The Limes
The upgrade of the 26 bed hostel will include new sports facilities a health room plus work with young male sex workers offering advice on risks and protection
glyn.meacher@salford.gov.uk, 0161 922 8752

Salford City Council
Salvation Army Housing Association
Rebuild of an institutional salvation army hostel with a direct access hub and move on flats - opportunity for residents to work on the rebuild through Salford Construction Partnership
jim.ohren@hsc.sefton.gov.uk, 0151 934 3619

Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
BOSCO Society
Plan to develop furniture social enterprise in the garden
amanda.boffey@crewe-nantwich.gov.uk, 01270 537 788

South East

Brighton & Hove City Council
First Base Day Centre
Reconfiguring an existing day centre to maximise work with rough sleepers on employment and education including a new social enterprise catering business offering training and employment opportunities, job clubs to help homeless people into work, IT training and a new Health clinic
Emma.Gilbert@brighton-hove.gov.uk, 01273 291 704 07825 387321

Brighton & Hove City Council
Palace Place
The funding will be used to remodel Palace Place to house a multi-functional Centre for single homeless, rough sleepers, ex-offenders and vulnerable young people. The Centre will provide a Learning, Employment and Skills Resource delivering a range of learning, skills and employment training. It will also provide a work placement programme (including offering placements within the Centre).
Emma.Gilbert@brighton-hove.gov.uk, 01273 291 704

Canterbury City Council
The Scrine
Major renovation of accommodation to become a flagship assessment centre with on site health and work schemes
LA - Steve.oborne@canterbury.gov.uk, 01227 862 102, Press - Glynis Alexander, Public Relations Manager. 01227 862051 glynis.alexander@canterbury.gov.uk
Rob Davies, Press Officer. 01227 862050 robert.davies@canterbury.gov.uk

Canterbury City Council
New Town Street
Upgrade a young persons hostel including creating a new life skills training room
as above

Oxford City Council
Crisis Skylight
This brings together many of Oxford's voluntary homelessness agencies under the roof of a famous building in Oxford - The Old fire station music/theatre venue. It will become a Crisis Skylight - replicating successful projects in London and Newcastle which provide extensive and modern training and education services for homeless people and wider community.
nparry@oxford.gov.uk, 01865 252 825

Oxford City Council
Aspire Oxford
Funding will create on the job training for hostel residents in gardening and landscaping. Aspire will work with a local garden centre to promote their garden and landscaping maintenance team as a business.
nparry@oxford.gov.uk, 01865 252 825

Oxford City Council
Steppin' Stone
Upgrade of a small day centre.
nparry@oxford.gov.uk, 01865 252 825

Oxford City Council
O'Hanlon House
Upgrade of a traditional nightshelter to develop it's reception and provide an outside area for residents.
Liz Slater - liz.slater@southampton.gov.uk, 0238 083 2582, Matthew Walters -matthew.walters@southampton.gov.uk02380 834 383

Southampton City Council
Cranbury Day Centre & Patrick House Hostel
A day centre and hostel will be upgraded and further develop the on site light engineering workshop to provide more training opportunities.
keith sutclife - ksutcliffe@testvalley.gov.uk, 01264 368 610

Test Valley Borough Council
Andover Crisis and Support Centre
Funding will expand services in a women's refuge so that they accommodate single homeless women who would otherwise be at risk of rough sleeping
Emma.Gilbert@brighton-hove.gov.uk, 01273 291 704 07825 387321

South West

Gloucester City Council
GEAR
Traditional church hall