Housing Association, Westcountry Housing, has been awarded £40,000 towards a new project which will help homeless people find a new place to live in the North Devon area.
The project, Westcountry Smart Move, will work with and support both landlords and clients seeking accommodation, to ensure that both sides are able to enjoy a trouble-free tenancies.
A range of tools will be on offer from the project, including financial incentives and active support, to help people move into tenancies and become good tenants. Equally, landlords will have access to support and be encouraged to work towards sustainable, long-term tenancies.
Divisional Manager, Bill Allen said, “We will use the grant award to secure tenancies for 30 people who would otherwise be facing homelessness. With the award, we will be able to offer some financial support to tenants and landlords to secure an initial tenancy in the private rented sector.”
“The award will also allow a specialist worker to support both tenants and landlords to ensure that the tenancy is well maintained from both sides, and that both tenant and landlord work positively to make the tenancy a long term commitment that benefits them both.”
The Westcountry Smart Move adds to another number of homelessness projects in North Devon which are managed by Westcountry Housing. All the projects combine to offer people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness a real opportunity to re-gain control of their lives.
The area of North Devon is an area of low wages, high house prices (in relation to wages) and a limited stock of social housing. The private rented sector is hugely important in the area, and this project will work towards ensuring better outcomes for tenants and landlords alike.
This local grant is part of a Crisis funding awards scheme of £2million for 49 new projects throughout England, that will help single homeless people find new homes and subsequently lasting independence.
Each of the individual projects will receive a grant of up to £50,000 each for the coming year and will target individuals who often struggle to find accommodation, including ex-offenders, young people under 25 and people living in temporary homeless hostels.
The Crisis programme is being funded by the Department of Communities and Local Government. The homelessness charity has more than a decade of experience in helping homeless people find new homes in the private rented sector.
Crisis Chief Executive Leslie Morphy said: “Single homeless people rarely meet the criteria to acquire council accommodation and finding a flat in the private rented sector can be a complex and expensive option. They need advice and help, but in many areas of the country, these specialist services are simply not there.
“Crisis asked local voluntary organisations to bid for these new funds so that we can kick-start the establishment of new private rented sector access schemes. These schemes will help people overcome financial barriers, match them to good landlords and help more individuals avoid the perils of homelessness.”
Housing Minister Grant Shapps said: "I have made clear that while it is vital that we tackle the record Budget deficit we inherited, we must also ensure that the most vulnerable people in society are protected.
"That's why we have maintained the level of Homelessness Grant in the Spending Review, and for the first time we've brought Ministers from across eight different Government departments together as a working group to ensure that the complex needs of the homeless are being met.
"So I am delighted that we have also been able to back these local projects supported by Crisis to the tune of £2.25 million. This will give single homeless people the chance they often don't get of a helping hand towards a stable home and long term independence."
Source: 24dash.com
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