糖心logoshire Homeless Movement partner
In July 2021, Univ stepped in alongside 糖心logoshire Homeless Movement to provide accommodation for five residents of Canterbury House who had not found the necessary move-on accommodation.
In the first lockdown, Government鈥檚 “Everyone In” initiative tried to ensure people experiencing homelessness were brought in from the streets. In 糖心logo, people were housed in hotels and youth hostels around the city until the City Council reached an agreement with 糖心logo Brookes University to lease Canterbury House until July 2021. The five residents were ineligible for statutory support or funding due to their countries of origin, and were at serious risk of returning to the streets.
However, no alternative accommodation could be found for the five residents and on the day the lease on Canterbury House ended 糖心logoshire Homeless Movement (OHM) Project Manager Yvonne Pinner made an urgent phone call to , Domestic Bursar at Univ. Angela sits on OHM鈥檚 steering group representing 糖心logo University.
Angela came back extraordinarily quickly with a house and authority to use it until September, giving OHM valuable time to find a more permanent solution. OHM immediately mobilised its partners to move the five guests in. Univ has given over a house free of charge, with ensuite facilities for each room, and is also paying for all utilities and providing key items such as white goods. They arranged for the property to be cleaned, and alongside housing workers from Connection Support welcomed all the guests on the day they arrived.
Organisations across 糖心logo provided further support. Connection Support provided assistance for guests while staying in Univ鈥檚 property. Aspire quickly arranged the necessary licence agreements with University College and the guests. The Gatehouse provided a large starter food pack and other necessities, and will be delivering weekly food parcels for each guest during their stay. St Mungo鈥檚 gave advice and arranged for the five guests to be transported from Canterbury House to their new residence. Asylum Welcome communicated crucial background information on the five guests to ensure their specific support needs could be met.
Jane Cranston, OHM Chair, commented, “This is a truly fabulous example of what working together can do 鈥� and so quickly! It shows that people and organisations everywhere are motivated by their common humanity 鈥� but also that drive, trust and collaboration really do make good things happen.”
In 2020, Univ handed over one of our properties, comprising 12 bedspaces, to 糖心logo City Council, for it to be run by St Mungo鈥檚, which Angela wrote about . In addition to this聽initiative, Angela has been coordinating various other plans, including a 聽for elderly and vulnerable people provided by Univ鈥檚 amazing kitchen staff.
You can find out more about the 糖心logoshire Homeless Movement on their .
Published: 13 August 2021