South Yorkshire Housing Association (SYHA) customer ‘Z’ came over to the UK in 2015. Z did not speak any English and found herself sleeping rough – so, with the support of a friend, contacted Rotherham Council for support. The council referred her onto SYHA’s Indigo Project service.

Indigo Project supports people who are experiencing homelessness to fulfil their aspirations to move on to independent living. It is funded by the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme (RSAP) and offers people the opportunity to move off the streets into a safe and secure home, and receive support to improve their wellbeing and develop new skills. The service supported Z to move into a property that SYHA purchased from a Rotherham Council flagship housing development. Z has lived there for the last year and a half while working with her keyworker to find her ‘forever home’.

“You have helped me so much over the last few years and continue to help me, and I love my home.”
– feedback from Z

The service worked with Z to get settled status, manage her tenancy and bid for properties. It also helped Z to use an interpreter service, open a bank account and set up direct debits, and to access treatment for some health conditions. 

Z is looking after her home, settling into her community, managing her finances brilliantly, and attending appointments independently. Recently, she has signed for an assured tenancy and will be successfully moving on from the service.

SYHA is thankful to Z, its Indigo Project team, its partners at Rotherham Council, and its funders at Homes England and Ministry of Housing, Communities, Housing & Local Government (MHCLG) for their support and investment into this great outcome.