SUNDERLAND’S new approach to helping people who are homeless or are living in temporary accommodation, has helped find a permanent home for a former homeless person.
This new approach follows a review of services and centres on quickly moving people experiencing homelessness into independent and permanent housing, with Sunderland City Council’s Housing Options team working alongside partners to coordinate services around their wider support needs.
Working with the Salvation Army and Gentoo, the Housing Options Team based in Fawcett Street has found former resident of temporary hostel accommodation at Swan Lodge, Stephen Bell, a tenancy – his own home.
Sunderland City Council’s approach is designed to put individual people at the centre of deciding how their specific accommodation and welfare needs are met, working with partners to provide somewhere to live, and a sense of stability and personal independence.
Sunderland City Council Portfolio Holder for Health, Housing and Adult Services, Councillor Graeme Miller said: “Mr Bell contacted us when he heard about the review of services and the changes being made. He was worried that he would lose his home in Swan Lodge where he had been living for a long time.
“He had accommodation where he felt safe because staff had supported him to lay the groundwork of moving forwards in his life, engaging in meaningful activities that worked to rebuild his confidence and prepare him for life after homelessness – that is, moving on and maintaining his own tenancy.
“Our team met him and re-assured him be could stay at Swan Lodge if he wished to, but also encouraged him to consider a different future where he might have his own tenancy with support to live in the community in his own home.”
Cllr Miller added “We worked with Stephen to help build up his confidence and create a housing plan, and the Salvation Army supported him to attend an interview to have his exclusion from social housing lifted which has now led him to be offered a tenancy by Gentoo.”
Executive Director of Operations at Gentoo, Michelle Meldrum added: “We wish Stephen the best of luck in his new home. We will continue to work closely with the local authority and other key partners in the city to provide long term, quality housing for local people like Stephen.”
Now living in his own home Stephen aged 45 said: “Originally I feared that all my choices were being taken away from me but what the Housing Options Team have done is actually to provide me with more.
“A Personalised Housing Plan was completed with me, and that led to the Housing Options team suggesting different housing and accommodation options that would meet my needs.
“People like me who find themselves without a home for whatever reason don’t expect sympathy, but do appreciate any opportunity we are given to improve our lives.”
Stephen added: “The team listened to me, and continue to listen to me.
“I always be grateful for the support and stability Swan Lodge provided at a difficult time in my life, and have volunteered to help the Salvation Army volunteers create a community garden there to build bridges of mutual understanding with local people.”
If you need housing advice or at risk of becoming homeless it’s important that you seek advice as soon as possible.
You can contact the Councils Housing Options Team on 0191 520 5551