New partnership aims to support Coventry rough sleepers
Published: Wednesday 06 Jul 2022
Coventry residents are being given a safe place to live and the chance to rebuild their lives, as part of a national programme aiming to end rough sleeping.
Specialist housing provider Stonewater has welcomed five new customers following the launch of its newest specialist accommodation service.
In a joint bid with West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), Stonewater was awarded funding though the government’s Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme (RSAP), enabling the housing association to purchase five one-bedroom apartments in Coventry city centre.
The new homes have been allocated to house customers with a history of street homelessness, giving them a safe and comfortable environment, whilst receiving intensive and specialist support from Coventry City Council’s Brighter Futures Team.
Through this partnership, the aim is to support each of the customers over the next two to three years – depending on the individual’s needs – to rebuild their confidence and work towards their personal goals enabling them to move on and secure long-term accommodation.
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Since the very start of my time in office, I have made tackling homelessness in our region a key part of my mayoral mission.
“We have made genuine progress thanks to WMCA efforts underway via programmes such as Change Into Action and Housing First.
"Now this new initiative in conjunction with Stonewater – powered by funding secured through the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme – enables a specialist accommodation service to begin, with the first five people now successfully housed and on track to rebuild their lives. We will continue to work hard to help those who have fallen on tough times and schemes like this demonstrate the impact we can make.”
Andrew King, Stonewater’s Head of Supported Living, said: “Across England it’s estimated that there are more than 2,400 people sleeping rough every night. The need for specialist services that can support those who have faced adversity, like homelessness, is ever-growing.
“We’re really pleased that through our partnership work we’ve been able to welcome five new customers and provide them a safe place where they have the space to heal and work on themselves. Hopefully enabling them to move forward with their lives, rather than being subjected to a cycle of having to focus all their energy on worrying about where they will sleep every night.”
Cllr David Welsh, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities at Coventry City Council, said: “We have a wide range of projects in Coventry to address homelessness and rough sleeping and this programme will provide more vital beds for people.
“I hope the scheme can contribute to the great work already happening locally, as we manage the increasing number of people struggling to keep a roof over their head.”
Stonewater was part of a successful bid by a number of organisations to deliver almost 30 new homes across the West Midlands to provide more homes for people experiencing homelessness.
In addition to this service, Stonewater provides a range of supported living options, which combine quality accommodation with specialist support to help people live independently. For more information, visit: https://www.stonewater.org/find-a-home/supported-living/