<
https://www.positive.news/society/how-housing-first-is-helping-people-leave-rough-sleeping-behind/>
"When Michael became homeless in Plymouth in 2022, he struggled to find the
support he needed, and made what he describes as an “impulsive” decision to
come to London.
For his first week in the capital, he slept on the pavement without even a
sleeping bag. Then he overheard people talking about The Connection at St
Martin-in-the-Fields, the homelessness charity next to the National Gallery,
and decided to show up.
Michael moved between the streets and temporary accommodation before eventually
securing a place through the UK government’s Rough Sleeping Accommodation
Programme. But it was time limited, and as the end of his tenancy approached
the uncertainty returned.
Then he heard about Solo Homes, The Connection’s version of a homelessness
approach known as Housing First. Michael was assigned a support worker, Gen,
and within weeks he had visited a flat and signed a tenancy agreement. Rent is
paid using his benefits, while the charity covers the cost of his care needs,
including mental health support.
Gen helped him settle in and access mental health support, while Michael began
making the place his own, even building some of his furniture. After years of
uncertainty, he finally felt he had somewhere he could stay.
“Since then it’s just been amazing,” he says. He has not returned to the
streets since."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
