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Sheffield Council launches Housing First scheme

Sheffield City Council has committed more than £350,000 to set up a Housing First service, as part of a package of measures to tackle rough sleeping.

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Sheffield Council launches Housing First scheme

The Housing First scheme will be delivered by local homelessness day centre provider Cathedral Archer Project and housing support service Nomad Opening Doors.

The funding, which is for three years, will be used to provide private rented sector accommodation for rough sleepers in greatest need, along with support to tackle addiction and mental health issues.

Ten people will be helped through the scheme at any one time.

Inside Housing has been campaigning for the government to back Housing First projects through our Cathy at 50 campaign. A government-funded Housing First pilot in Liverpool is currently under way.


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Tim Renshaw, chief executive of the Cathedral Archer Project, said Housing First gave vulnerable people a secure base.

“A lot of issues around homelessness relate to instability and insecurity. Providing security is right at the heart of this approach,” he said. “We’ll be working with people who have very complex needs and considerable personal barriers to overcome.”

Sheffield City Council also recently issued a series of grants to local organisations to tackle homelessness. This includes £37,700 a year for three years to Nomad Opening Doors for a pilot project to work with 270 homeless people, including rough sleepers.

Rough sleeping has been an increasingly visible issue in Sheffield. In January, the council cleared a “tent city” over concerns it was unsafe.

On 5 July, the council debated a petition for a night shelter, brought by the organiser of the tent city. This has been resisted by councillors.

The petition was brought after Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham councils were given £400,000 between them under the government’s Homelessness Prevention Programme.

Jayne Dunn, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and community safety at Sheffield Council, said: “Some people in the city are calling for a night shelter but we plan to use this extra funding to help get more people into supported housing schemes, help provide more tailored support and help people who are not yet on the streets but are at risk of sleeping rough.

“These are the things we know, and all the research and evidence tells us, will have the most impact in terms of helping people – and helping them for the long term.”

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