Archives

Build more social homes: A plan for post-pandemic recovery

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The pandemic has shown us the importance of a safe and secure home like never before. Yet now, with the fallout of COVID-19, millions of private renters are facing the threat of homelessness, with council house waiting lists expected to almost double in 2021. Meanwhile, thousands of families are enduring lockdown in temporary accommodation.

There's no doubt that the need to build more social housing is greater

than ever.

This virtual workshop will provide an insight into Shelter's 'Building Our Way Out' report, which sets out recommendations for how the government can kick-start the economy, create jobs and level up housing inequality by building more decent social rented homes that people on low incomes can afford.

Following a presentation from Shelter CEO, Polly Neate, there will be an opportunity for feedback and discussion on the pressures and challenges faced by housing associations in delivering social housing and how as a sector we can work with the government to build more.

The workshop will be hosted via Zoom. Please complete the form below to register your place.

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Eastern Region Meeting – Supporting Migrant Workers Facing Homelessness

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Hosted by Broadland Housing Association, our next Eastern Region meeting on 7 July 2021, 3-4.30pm, welcomes Simon Shreeve, Service Manager with the People from Abroad Team at Norfolk County Council to discuss the work County have been doing with migrant workers who have no resource for public funding.  There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion following his presentation.

If you would like to attend the meeting, please contact Paula Strachan, Communication & Tenant Participation Manager at Broadland Housing on Paula.Strachan@broadlandgroup.org.  A Zoom joining link with be emailed shortly.

 

 

 

Bradford Homelessness & Housing Summit: What next after Everyone In?

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Homes for Cathy is joining forces with charity Hope Housing to run a special event dedicated to finding workable solutions to the current homelessness situation in Bradford.

The Bradford Homelessness & Housing Summit: What next after Everyone In? will bring together stakeholders from across Bradford to explore next steps for individuals currently housed by the government's Everyone In scheme.  If stage four of the lockdown roadmap goes  ahead, a cohort of around 80 people in Bradford face the prospect of becoming homeless; of the 80, 50 are 'no recourse to public funds (NRPF) clients.

Attendees at the event will hear from Jean Demars, director at the Public Interest Law Centre, on the particular challenges that migrants encounter in the UK.   Jean has worked in a variety of frontline and management roles across the homelessness and migration sectors since 2000 and is a specialist on the legalities surrounding migrant homelessness and NRPF.

Following presentations from Hope Housing and the Oxfordshire Homeless Movement - which has united stakeholders in Oxford to deliver a successful migrant homelessness project - there will be an opportunity for discussion, feedback and agreement on workable solutions for Bradford.

This is a must-attend event for anyone working in the housing and homelessness sectors in Bradford.

About Hope Housing

Established in 2008, Hope Housing is a registered Christian charity working with people experiencing homelessness in Bradford.  Its aim is to end rough sleeping in Bradford by eradicating homelessness through the provision of a range of services including crisis management, advice and advocacy and supported housing. 

Please register your attendance by completing the form below.  A Zoom meeting link will be issued via email.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Youth Homelessness: Exploring housing sector best practice

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According to charity Centrepoint, 121,000 young people in the UK approached their local authority in 2019/20 as they were homeless or at risk of homelessness - often at a crisis point where family relationships had broken down.  Many of these young people sleep rough every night, but there are thousands more "hidden homeless", sleeping on sofas, floors, night buses or with strangers.

The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the problem, with young people hit particularly hard by unemployment and the strain on family relationships resulting from lockdown restrictions.  Moreover, the pandemic has thrown up barriers to young people making formal homelessness applications and accessing appropriate support from councils.

In our free webinar, we will explore the current picture of youth homelessness in the UK, the particular challenges young people face in accessing housing and the interventions that work.

Hear from Homes for Cathy member One Housing, which supports over 400  vulnerable young people in London, working with each individual to understand their unique circumstances and collaborating with nearly 40 partners via its Whites Row assessment centre, including the NHS, local businesses and charities, to provide a holistic approach to youth homelessness.

Learn from our speakers:

  • Billy Harding, Senior Policy & Research Officer at Centrepoint
  • Lucy Bowyer, Assistant Director of Services at the Albert Kennedy Trust (AKT)
  • Kathleen Hopgood, Strategic Head of Homelessness and Raymond Austin, Head of Homelessness and Prevention at One Housing

Following our speakers, there will be an opportunity for questions from attendees and discussion.

Register below for your free place.  The webinar will be held via Zoom - a joining link will be sent out shortly.

 

 

 

Tenancy Training Workshop in partnership with Crisis

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PLEASE NOTE - THIS EVENT IS NOW FULL.  PLEASE CONTACT HOMESFOR.CATHY@HIGHTOWNHA.ORG.UK TO BE ADDED TO THE WAITING LIST

People who have experienced homelessness can face numerous financial and personal barriers in finding – and sustaining – a tenancy.  For young people leaving care and those who have spent prolonged periods sleeping rough or in temporary accommodation, the transition to independent living – and taking on new responsibilities - can be an anxious and confusing time.

In collaboration with our charity partner Crisis, Homes for Cathy is running a FREE best practice workshop focusing on tenancy training.  The workshop will explore the positive outcomes tenancy training can have, not only for people who have experienced homelessness or are at risk of homelessness, but also for social landlords who are keen to reduce the social and financial impact of interventions and prevent future homelessness.

We look forward to welcoming:

  • Peter Harrison and Pilar Lara Cruz from Crisis to talk about the Crisis 'Renting Ready' programme, a unique tenancy training course designed for homeless people, those at risk of homelessness, and those with limited experience of independent living.
  • Guest speakers from a local authority and housing association to discuss the benefits of delivering 'Renting Ready' training for their tenants and service users.

The workshop will culminate in a breakout room discussion and feedback on what good tenancy training looks like and an opportunity to network with like-minded providers.

We welcome attendees from housing associations, local authorities and charities who are interested in gaining and sharing knowledge on innovative and actionable solutions to ending homelessness.

 

 

 

Housing Solutions to Migrant Homelessness: Partnership Approaches

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Join us at our free online workshop exploring Homes for Cathy Commitment #8 'To contribute to ending migrant homelessness in the areas housing associations operate'.

Housing associations can, and already do, play an integral role in providing housing and support for destitute migrants, working with local authorities and other local partners to offer emergency accommodation for individuals who are not able to access statutory homelessness assistance.

During our free online event, you will hear from NACCOM, the No Accommodation Network, on the reasons why migrants become destitute, the barriers they can face while being granted leave to remain in the UK and how the offer of accommodation - even if it is temporary - can make all the difference in supporting them to become self-sufficient, contributing members of society.  We will also be sharing positive practice from housing associations and charities that are working in partnership to deliver migrant homelessness schemes.

Agenda:

11:00-11:05 Welcome & introduction Vicki McDonald, Homes for Cathy
11:05-11:25 Framing migrant destitution & an overview of housing models that work Katie Fawcett/Paul Catterall - NACCOM
11:25:11:30 Lived experience of being homeless with no recourse to public funds Lived experience speaker (tbc)
11:30-11:50 Filling the void – using empty properties to house destitute migrants in Sheffield Phil Parkes, SYHA + Oliver Chamberlain/Jochen Kortländer, ASSIST
11:50-11:55 Break
11:55-12:05 The Oxfordshire Homeless Movement (OHM) – creating a local coalition to end rough sleeping Yvonne Pinner, Oxfordshire Homeless Movement
12:05-12:15 The OHM NRPF Project – how a multi-agency approach is supporting destitute migrants Eva Brown, Connection Support
12:15-12:25 Providing housing for NRPF migrants – a housing response Jude McCaffery, Soha + Paul Roberts, Aspire
12:25-12:30 Closing remarks Vicki McDonald, Homes for Cathy
12:30-12:45 Breakout room Q&A session for attendees who wish to stay on All

 

To register your place at this online event, please complete the form below.

 

 

Women, homelessness & violence: How can the housing sector improve its response?

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Shocking new statistics reveal domestic abuse caused nearly one in six new homelessness cases in England between April and June 2021.

According to figures from the DLUHC, of 34,830 households newly assessed as homeless in early 2021, 5,590 were in that position because of domestic abuse. Sadly, these numbers are the highest since records began in 2018, a trend that has been attributed to Covid-19 pandemic.

Housing associations have seen this reflected in a sharp rise in referrals to homelessness and refuge services and a surge in reports of domestic abuse from residents.

So, how can the sector improve its response, not just at the crisis end in specialist services but every day, in our housing policies and practices and our interactions with both new and existing tenants who have experienced violence?

Our next workshop will explore best practice in relation to women's homelessness – and its links to violence and abuse – with guest speakers from the Centre for Homelessness Impact (CHI) and the Centre for Regional and Economic Research (CRESR) and Homes for Cathy members Elim Housing and Wandle.

  • Hear about new research by the CHI/CRESR, based on testimonies from 14 women, which examines how women's experiences of homelessness are often shaped by gender-based violence, explores how trauma influences women's support needs and considers the need for services and policies that are tailored to the distinct needs of women.
  • Learn from a lived experience speaker on her experience of leaving a violent relationship, living in 'unsafe' temporary accommodation and rough sleeping.
  • Hear from Elim Housing, which runs specialist supported housing for women as part of Bristol's homelessness pathway for women, on how experiences from its C&SH services are informing a review of policies in general needs housing.
  • Find out about Wandle's journey to DAHA accreditation and the practices it has put in place to prevent homelessness linked to domestic abuse, ensuring women can remain in their homes or move to a place of safety if necessary.
  • There will also be an opportunity for questions and discussion.

Please note, registration for this workshop is now closed.

 

 

Workshop: Exploring the value of life & tenancy skills training to prevent homelessness

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Among the nine commitments Homes for Cathy members pledge to meet are #3 'to offer constructive solutions to applicants who aren’t deemed eligible for an offer of a home', #4 'to not make any tenant seeking to prevent their homelessness, homeless' and #5 'to commit to meeting the needs of vulnerable tenant groups'.

Providing life and tenancy skills training to tenants is a constructive way that housing associations can meet these commitments, reducing the risk of offering a home to someone who may have a history of failed tenancies; helping prevent homelessness for tenants who may be struggling to succeed in an existing tenancy; and supporting vulnerable tenants such as young people who may not have experience of independent living.

Our workshop will explore the challenges, practicalities and benefits of offering life and tenancy skills training to tenants, with guest speakers Rebecca White from social enterprise Your Own Place and Paula Tuck from Saffron Housing Trust discussing a new collaboration between housing associations in East Anglia which is bringing tenancy and independent living skills training to tenants across the region.  There will be an opportunity for questions and discussion.

Guest speakers:

Rebecca White, Your Own Place

Rebecca White

Rebecca White is the CEO and Founder of Your Own Place.  As a social entrepreneur, ex-local authority commissioner for social services and qualified secondary school teacher, Rebecca has years of experience working with people in a variety of settings.

 

Paula Tuck

Paula Tuck is Assistant Director of Customer Services at Saffron Housing Trust, part of Independent East, an informal alliance of five leading Norfolk and Suffolk social housing providers formed with the aim of improving services for tenants.

 

This event is now closed for registration.

Youth homelessness forum in partnership with Centrepoint

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Ending Youth Homelessness Together – Get involved in Centrepoint’s new campaign!

For over 50 years youth homelessness charity Centrepoint have been supporting young people across the UK affected by homelessness. They now want to go further and campaign to end youth homelessness altogether – by getting the next government to make a commitment to end youth homelessness.

Homes for Cathy members are invited to support this campaign and feed in to the process of identifying and developing the key policy recommendations to take to government.

As housing associations and providers of accommodation and services to young people, your perspective and insights will be invaluable to help Centrepoint shape the key policy recommendations needed to make youth homelessness a thing of the past.

This session will be an open discussion on the key drivers of youth homelessness, any barriers which exist, and the key policy changes needed to help ensure all young people have a safe and stable place to call home.

Centrepoint want to hear from as many organisations and individuals as possible – so if you are passionate about tackling youth homelessness, please get involved!

Please register your attendance by completing the form below. The session will be held via Zoom - please check your inbox for joining instructions.

Increasing integration between housing and health to tackle homelessness

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Evidence tells us that the health of people experiencing homelessness is significantly worse than that of the general population, while the cost of homelessness experienced by single people to the NHS and social care is considerable.

Statistics show that the average age of death for a long-term homeless person is 45 years for males and 43 years for females, with around 40% of those deaths related to drugs*.  The prevalence of multiple, long-term health conditions in the homeless population means people experiencing homelessness generally have a poorer quality of life.

Aside from the obvious human cost, homelessness has an impact on the public purse – research shows that people who experience homelessness for three months or longer cost on average £4,298 per person to NHS services and £2,099 per person for mental health services**.

As providers of homelessness services, what part can housing associations play in improving these outcomes?  How can we integrate better with health to make a difference on a local level?

Our one hour online workshop with HACT will explore the changing landscape of the NHS and what this signifies for housing associations looking to build stronger partnerships with health.  Andrew Van Doorn, HACT chief executive, a specialist in the field of housing and health, and Sarah Parsons, HACT health and research lead will discuss:

  • Recent changes to the commissioning and regulatory landscape of health, including the formation of Integrated Care Systems, plus new measures arising from the 2022 Health & Care Act to tackle health inequalities
  • Integrated service delivery opportunities for housing associations looking to develop their homelessness provision and improve health outcomes for service users

There will also be an opportunity for Q&As.  The workshop will take place on Zoom.

Register for free by completing the form below.


 

 

* Source: ONS

** Source: Crisis