Salford Foyer, run by Places for People, is set to boost its support for young people experiencing homelessness in the North West, with funding from property industry charity LandAid, to build six new modular homes.
With innovative thinking and modern building techniques at the forefront, permission was recently granted by Salford City Council’s Planning Committee for the Seedley Road site. The six modular units will be available for young single parent families who have become homeless. The spaces will allow people to live independently with their own kitchen area, living area, bathroom and bedroom, whilst still having access to wrap around support from the charity, Salford Foyer.
The properties will be delivered by Agile Homes and will be part funded by money raised through LandAid’s flagship SleepOut event in Greater Manchester, which the team from Places for People took part in. The events sees hundreds come together each year from across the property and charity industries to face a night sleeping outside in the cold – a small insight into what hundreds of young people battling with homelessness experience across the UK every night.
Last year alone nearly 136,000 16-24 year olds presented to their local authority as homeless or at risk of homelessness. Sadly, this figure is getting worse with a 2.21% rise in the North West on the previous year. With rising rents and reductions in benefit payments disproportionately affecting those most vulnerable, like young single parent families, support has never been needed more.
LandAid’s mission is to bring the property industry together to support charities delivering life-changing services for young people who are or have been homeless, or who are at risk of homelessness in the future. Through a unique network of corporate partners, they invest funding and expertise where they can achieve lasting impact.
Salford Foyer, run by leading social enterprise Places for People, has been offering temporary accommodation for homeless 16–25-year-olds for 27 years and currently has space to support 43 young people.
People like James. James said: “When I was 17 I was kicked out of my parents’ home and was struggling with where to live and manage my college studies at the same time. I was accepted into Salford Foyer. They are really helpful and supported me to manage my finances and helped me stay on track at college. They have also helped me develop my social skills and health by facilitating football sessions where we get involved with the community. They are currently helping me get my own place and prepare for university.”
These six units will enable Salford Foyer to support even more young people who don’t have a place to turn for support when they most desperately need it.
Rachel Crownshaw, Group Managing Director for Communities at Places for People, said: “Salford Foyer is such an important service for young people who have fallen on difficult times, with nowhere to call home, and they just need some help to get back on their feet. Worryingly, a recent poll we conducted revealed that one in four people aged 16 to 24 are concerned that either they or someone they know could become homeless in the next 12 months. People coming to Salford Foyer often face complex issues which have led them to become homeless such as leaving care, a family breakdown, financial problems, domestic abuse, unemployment and more. We offer more than a roof over their head; we work closely with them to help tackle the issues they may face and we’re proud to have supported 53 young people over the past two years alone to move on to a permanent home of their own.
The demand for safe, high quality supported accommodation for young people in the North West sadly continues to rise, so we are very grateful to be able to increase our offer with the support of LandAid’s funding. We are really excited to add the new, modern, modular homes to our existing service and to be able to support more young people when they need it most and to give them the best possible start to adulthood.”
Nathan Cornish, Chair for LandAid’s North West board said: “We’ve been working hard as a North West board to identify a project that we can invest the monies we have raised into – the Salford Foyer proposal is the project that got us all excited. To have a role in supporting the increased offer, with a sustainable new build proposal is something we are delighted to be involved in and we can’t wait for them to be open so that more 16-25 year olds can get the accommodation that is so desperately needed.”
