Mansfield to be part of new housing scheme to help the homeless

Mansfield Council has been awarded £310,628 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to provide a specialist housing project, which is the first of its kind anywhere in Nottinghamshire outside the city.

The project, which will start in April, is based on a model called Housing First and will provide housing and intensive personalised support to those with multiple and complex needs.

Successful Housing First pilots are already taking place in various areas of the UK.

The Mansfield scheme will provide a total of 30 bed spaces, 20 of which will be in shared houses – each with two or three beds.

In addition, there will be ten single properties across the district, two of which will be provided by the council and others by housing associations working in partnership with the council.

The vast majority of the funding will be used to employ seven specialist staff from Action Housing, Change Grow Live and Tuntum Housing Association, who will provide support around substance misuse, employment and teach skills to live independently.

The funding will also provide ongoing support including covering the costs of clients to attend Job Centre appointments and job interviews, as well as providing bonds and rent in advance when they are ready to move on into other accommodation.

Coun Marion Bradshaw, portfolio holder for housing at the council, said: “This funding will make a huge difference to the work we are already doing to reduce homelessness.”

Over the past year, the council has worked with the charity Framework to help 14 rough sleepers access appropriate support and accommodation.

Mansfield is also set to benefit from some of the £836,916 that has been awarded to Nottinghamshire County Council for use in all the districts and boroughs.

Click here for more information about volunteering or supporting the scheme.

If you see someone who is homeless, please contact the Framework on 0800 0665356 or click here.