£1 million fund to tackle homelessness

Hundreds of people at risk of homelessness across the region are getting help from a £1million cash boost handed to Mayor Richard Parker by government.

During the coldest winter months, the money from the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant (RSPARG) programme is providing timely, practical support for around 700 people either already sleeping rough, at risk of losing their home, or living in temporary and insecure housing.

This funding backs the Mayor’s Homes for Everyone priority and is funding 16 projects helping move people into stable accommodation, manage their bills, find work or training, and access health and wellbeing services to get them back on their feet and building a more secure future.

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.

Mayor Richard Parker with Michelle Brown, Move On officer at The Gateway, former residents Steve, Dean, Ali and Maz, and Gail Cooper, Citizen housing support manager at The Gateway.

Steve, 59, 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.

Steve said: “Before I came to The Gateway, I was in shared accommodation, surrounded by people drinking and taking drugs, and I’d become a product of my environment. But now I’ve got a far superior support network than I've ever, ever had in my life thanks to The Gateway.

“Helping others through the Gateway Link has given me a sense of purpose, direction and satisfaction in my own life. When I was asked to be the chairman, I thought, someone believes in me. Without that shred of belief I would be on the streets, drinking and taking drugs.”

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, 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.

“But designing out homelessness also means having enough safe, affordable homes and alongside this funding we’re also making really good progress in building more social housing than ever, with 2,000 new homes already in the pipeline and more to come.”

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.

Michelle Brown, Move On officer at Citizen, said: “It was great to be visited by Mayor Richard Parker so he could see the impact the Move On Project has on our customers. The project is funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and has so far helped us support 12 people into their own homes after living at Gateway .

“As a Move On Officer my work is crucial as I’m able to support Gateway customers as they move into their own home and afterwards by helping them with applications for work or registering with doctors to give a couple of examples. Being a Move On Officer helps to provide that extra support when someone is starting their own tenancy as this can be an overwhelming process.

“Everyone we have supported as part of this project has successfully moved into their own home and is managing their own tenancy so we’re really seeing the impact of the project.

“We want to work with our partners, such as the WMCA, to make a positive difference to our customers and communities and this is a great example of that.”

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, helping more than 2,000 people move away from rough sleeping towards a more secure future.

The campaign, run by the West Midlands Combined Authority’s Homelessness Taskforce, 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.

This includes finding a home, essential household items and clothing, and boosting confidence, health, and wellbeing. It also provides employment support and assistance with attending vital services and appointments.

Donations can be made all year at the Change into Action website.