HUNDREDS of people at risk of homelessness across the region are getting help from a £1million cash boost.
West Midlands Mayor, Richard Parker, has been handed the funds by the government for the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant (RSPARG) programme.
The programme offers practical support for around 700 people either already sleeping rough, at risk of losing their home, or living in temporary and insecure housing.
The Mayor visited Coventry to meet a group of people who have recently been homeless and are now turning their lives around thanks to the Move On project, funded through the RSPARG programme and run by housing association Citizen from The Gateway supported housing scheme.
Other projects supported by the region’s RSPARG funding include targeted help for care leavers and women, as well as work with landlords and housing associations to identify tenants at risk before they reach the point of homelessness.
Steve, from Coventry, told the Mayor how he arrived at The Gateway after being evicted from a shared house. With support from Citizen, he has overcome personal challenges and is now living independently in his own flat.
He is also chairman of Gateway Link, a group of current and former Gateway residents who run social activities and use their skills to support each other, from decorating and DIY to helping with removals when they move into their own homes.
Mr Parker said: “Hearing Steve’s story left me in no doubt about the devastating impact that being homeless can have on someone’s life and how a safe, secure home underpins everything. Without it, health, confidence and opportunity can quickly unravel.
“That’s why I’m using this funding to give more people like him and the others I met at The Gateway the hope they need to get themselves back on their feet. It’s already changed their lives for the better and will do the same for many more.”
There are currently 7,000 households living in temporary accommodation and the number of people sleeping rough across the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) area remains at around pre-pandemic levels.
Citizen is using its funding to employ a dedicated Move On Officer, Michelle Brown, to work closely with residents at The Gateway, helping them move out of supported accommodation and settle into their own home and an independent life.
This project, which began in August, is showing great potential, having already helped 12 residents successfully move into their own homes, with four also now in work.
Public generosity continues to play a vital role alongside this work. Since its launch eight years ago, the region’s year-round alternative giving campaign Change into Action has raised over £350,000 and helped more than 2,000 people move away from rough sleeping towards a more secure future.
The campaign, run by WMCA’s Homelessness Taskforce and local councils, encourages people to make an online donation rather than giving directly to those asking for money on the street.
Every donation goes directly to trusted local charities and street teams, helping people sleeping rough to access targeted support, including finding a home, essential household items and clothing, and boosting confidence, health, and wellbeing.
For more or to donate click here.
