"I realised that all the monies … were going into EMERGENCY and COPING, with little money left over for CURE… Imagine what the rewards would be if homeless projects got their hands on some real cure money? The effects on homeless people would be great."
John Bird, the Big Issue Manifesto 2006
Ambition 2: To empower people to avoid or escape homelessness.
The right support at the right time can prevent homelessness; it can sustain people once they have moved on out but most vitally it helps people who are homeless to rebuild their lives and get back on their feet.
Homeless people and families need support to:
Support is delivered through:
Supporting People is the first national co-ordinated programme to deliver "housing related support" for vulnerable people. Local authorities administer the fund and commission services to meet local need. Homeless people fall within the socially excluded groups that can receive support with accommodation. Almost all the services to these groups are provided by Third Sector organisations.
Introduced in 2003, Supporting People has been a great success, increasing the supply and quality of support. However, the costs were originally underestimated and, as a result, the national budget was subsequently reduced. This has put services under severe pressure in many areas. The budget strains place at risk the improvements made in quality of service and standards of staffing. There is no required minimum provision and there are parts of the country where there is no supported accommodation for people who become homeless.
Supporting People is a real “Invest to Save” budget. It needs:
Increase investment in Supporting People programme in CSR 2007 so it can sustain and enhance services for homeless people and develop services in areas where there are none.
David had been in trouble many times during his comparatively short life. A drug user, he had become habituated to stealing to supply his habit. In the two years before he entered supported accommodation he was alleged to have committed 40 incidents of vandalism, 25 car thefts and one incidence of arson. He was arrested 12 times, in court three times, prosecuted twice and spent 8 months in prison.
Solas, a homelessness agency in Newport, found him a room in their hostel. He regularly attended their day centre, which offers an extensive programmeof activities – ranging from ceramics and carpentry to cookery, bicycle repair, drama and music. After two years David left for his own flat.
He has given up drugs, has a new girlfriend and a job.
The two years before David entered services were estimated to have cost £416,953 in criminal justice costs alone. The next two years cost £30,000 for accommodation and £20,000 for day services.
"The feelings of elation and accomplishment which I felt standing on the stage are something I’ll never forget and played a large part in overcoming my difficulties and starting to put my life back together"
Participant in Streetwise Opera
Supporting People funds 'housing related support'. There are other sorts of support and activity that can really help people get back on their feet. For example, most homeless people want to work. More services are now helping people overcome any personal barriers to getting work, including building self-confidence and skills. Social enterprise can offer real opportunities, also supported employment schemes. Arts, cultural activities and sports can all help build skills, confidence and new social networks. Many homeless services are now including these activities to help people get back on their feet.
John had been coming to Shekinah Mission in Plymouth for a year before he felt able to talk to anyone. When he did, a staff member tried to find out what motivated him. He asked, "What did you want to be when you were little?" John's face lit up, "I always dreamt of being a mechanic for Ferrari!".
Rather than pouring cold water on this dream, the key worker sat down with him to work out what skills and qualifications he would need to achieve his goal, step by step. John realized his aspiration was very high but that there were steps he might be able to achieve that would take him closer. He started small, working as a volunteer at a local garage. After taking basic skills and a mechanic's course, John started to work part time. Now he’s working full time as a qualified motor mechanic. He's not working for Ferrari - yet. Nevertheless, his story shows that, by not giving up on people, working with their aspirations and treating them as individuals, it is possible for people to achieve real and lasting change in their lives.
Ending homelessness will require policy changes. It will also need fundamental changes in the ways many voluntary and statutory services for homeless people work.
Homeless Link’s regional team works with services to identify issues, introduce new ideas and solutions and to build new partnerships. The ‘Creating Change’ strategy sets out an agenda for rising to the challenge of change.
The headlines for action are:
Homeless Link will publish its manifesto for change in homelessness services in 2007.
http://www.homeless.org.uk/developyourservice/creatingchange
THE FACTS:
For people with multiple needs escaping homelessness is much more difficult. Combinations of poor mental and physical health, substance misuse, personality disorder, disability or challenging behaviour can be exacerbated by age. Paradoxically having multiple needs makes accessing mainstream services more difficult: people get passed from one service to another getting none of their needs addressed. Many fall back on homelessness services.
CHECKLIST:
Since the early 1990s concerted efforts have been made to tackle rough sleeping. The Conservatives introduced the Rough Sleeping Initiative first in London and then more widely (see progress so far). In 1997 Tony Blair recognised the problem as the most extreme form of social exclusion and set the national goal of reducing rough sleeping to “as close to zero as possible” but at least by two thirds in the short term. This sparked intensive work by government, third sector charities and local authorities, working in partnership. As a result, levels of rough sleeping across England have been reduced by around 75 per cent (rather less in London). This contrasts with the situation in many other nations where rough sleeping, particularly in the major cities, has been rising rapidly to unprecedented levels.
This has been a real success. However, falls in numbers have now reduced or ceased. The most recent national figures show a rise in some areas.
Longstanding rough sleepers need intensive support for their multiple needs to prevent them recycling through the system.
Ten years after the target was set will be a good moment for a thorough review of progress. It is a great opportunity to set a new challenging national target to combat this most extreme form of homelessness.