Cornerstone Supported Housing & Counselling is one of just eight projects across the country to successfully secure funding from national homelessness charity St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity through its new Access to Accommodation Fund. The Fund helps grassroots organisations develop, test and scale creative housing solutions to homelessness in their communities.
Cornerstone Supported Housing & Counselling has secured £35,510 for its proposal which will see it adapt two existing properties in Durham and Hartlepool to create fully accessible, self-contained homes for people experiencing homelessness with mobility needs.
The homes will provide emergency accommodation for up to 24 more people a year facing homelessness and living with a disability and will double the amount of accessible homes the organisation can provide. The Durham homes will be ready at the end of April and Hartlepool in time for the summer.
All eight projects are designed by teams working closely with those experiencing homelessness to tackle unmet local needs. They will receive significant funding from the charity over the next three years.
Grassroots organisations with a turnover of up to £2 million were invited to apply for up to £100,000. Cornerstone Supported Housing & Counselling saw off nearly 100 applicants. Successful projects needed to create accommodation; demonstrate a clear understanding of the experiences of those facing homelessness; involve people with experience of homelessness in their design, development or delivery; and have the potential to be scaled up or replicated elsewhere.
Aimed at small and grassroots organisations like the Cornerstone Supported Housing & Counselling, the Access to Accommodation Fund was developed by St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity in direct response to reports from frontline workers that access to housing is one of the biggest challenges for people experiencing homelessness. According to the Charity’s 8th annual UK-wide survey of frontline workers published last Autumn, 83% said it was difficult to access suitable accommodation and 55% of respondents said this had got worse in the last 12 months.
Commenting on the new Access to Accommodation Fund, Duncan Shrubsole, Chief Executive Officer said:
“Locally based homelessness charities are on the frontline of our housing crisis facing rising need and ever greater challenges in trying to find affordable appropriate accommodation to rehouse people in. We hope this programme demonstrates that new accommodation solutions are still possible and that it will encourage government, local councils and other funders to invest in similar such initiatives so more people can have a safe and secure place to call home”.
Commenting on their success Steve Vasey, CEO of Cornerstone Supportive Housing & Counselling, said:
“There just isn’t enough accessible housing for those at risk of homelessness. We were trying to support a double amputee and there, quite literally, was nowhere he could go. This opportunity to double our capacity promises to be a game changer for people living with disabilities who find themselves also facing homelessness. It’s not just about accommodation but support too – having someone to advocate for you as you re-build and find a permanent home. It’s exciting to think our work could provide a model for other parts of the country.”
More information is available here: Access to Accommodation Fund: Grants for Local Housing Solutions – St Martin-in-the-Fields
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
