A progressive landlord is seeing the positive impact of their Salford-wide homelessness scheme as the first tenants move into new homes which have been built to end homelessness.
Landlord ForHousing has completed refurbishment work to create six one-bedroom homes for people at risk of becoming homeless. The initiative is part of the government’s Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme (RSAP).
The flats, in the Little Hulton area of Salford, are furnished and offered at a low-cost social rent to people who may otherwise end up sleeping rough.
Tenancies for the homes provided through the RSAP will be for a maximum of two years to help ensure accommodation continues to be available for rough sleepers for many years to come.
Tasha* was the first tenant to move into the RSAP-funded properties last year. After becoming homeless following her relationship breaking down, she had ended up sleeping rough in parks and on the streets.
Tasha felt very low and frightened, and with no family or friends to support her, her mental health deteriorated.
She approached support services who were able to provide her with temporary accommodation, and from there was referred to ForHousing. Tasha is now settling into her new home delivered through the RSAP.
Tasha has received support to furnish her flat and make it feel like home, as well as intensive support with setting up benefits and learning budgeting skills.
She said: “I couldn’t be happier with the property. It’s given me a safe environment to build my self-confidence again and now I have access to support too, my mental health is going from strength to strength.”
Elsewhere in Salford, eight one-bedroom flats are currently being developed in Irlam, with a 12 month build period, which are expected to complete in March 2023.
Two more schemes in Eccles and Swinton are also in the pipeline and will help even more people to keep a roof over their heads and receive the support they need to rebuild their lives.
In Knowsley, where ForHousing also owns and manages more than 1,600 homes, a further seven one-bedroom flats are due to complete refurbishment works in March 2023. In total, ForHousing are expecting to invest £643,000 into these new homes.
The new schemes follow a £1.37 million redevelopment of five semi-detached properties into 10 one-bedroom flats in 2021. Spread across Irlam, Eccles, Little Hulton and central Salford, the progressive landlord received a total of £690,000 of RSAP funding for the redevelopment.
ForHousing has been working closely with Salford City Council throughout the process to identify people most in need and offer them places in the homes.
Nigel Sedman, Executive Director of Homes at ForHousing, said: “At ForHousing, we believe everyone should have a place to call home, and some people need extra support to get there – especially given the current cost of living crisis. It’s great to see the phases of the Rough Sleepers Accommodation Programme progressing, it means we can help more people find stability in their life.
“Seeing people settle in our Salford schemes close to their families and support networks like Tasha makes us particularly proud.
“We’re looking forward to continuing to work in partnership with Salford City Council to improve people’s lives.”
The Government’s £433 million RSAP was launched in 2020 with an aim to deliver up to 6,000 homes for rough sleepers and bring forward accommodation to help tackle rough sleeping in the long-term.
Contributing to address the homelessness crisis is a key priority for ForHousing, and in the last year, the landlord has let 44 per cent of its homes to people and families who were previously homeless, at risk of homelessness or sleeping rough.
Independently of RSAP, ForHousing has also built a £3.9m scheme in Salford of 39 homes specifically for people facing homelessness.
The landlord is working with partners on a range of initiatives to tackle homelessness. This includes a pioneering project funded by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) that aims to end the worrying trend of people being discharged into unsuitable housing or ending up sleeping rough after treatment in hospital.
ForHousing has provided eight accessible homes which people who fit the criteria can be fast-tracked into with a referral from Salford City Council.
In addition to a roof over their heads, it provides a safe environment for health visits and home treatments.
