HOUSING FIRST
We run a Housing First service in Wolverhampton, offering intensive support for people with multiple disadvantages who have experienced rough sleeping. Our Specialist Workers provide person centred, flexible support for people in line with the Housing First principles.
Our Workers and Peer Mentors work alongside service users to help them move into a home of their own, develop their skills and interests and engage in meaningful activity.
To find out more about the Housing First model go to https://hfe.homeless.org.uk/about-housing-first
ACCOMMODATION FOR EX-OFFENDERS PROGRAMME (AFEO)
We run an AFEO programme supporting individuals that are due to be released from prison by securing accommodation for them and providing one to one support. This involves working with the individuals and the landlords to ensure a smooth transition and sustain tenancies. More details here:
- AFEO is a project that supports people into accommodation who have had an offending history within the last 12 months.
- Within the project we aim to support people with an offending history into private sector accommodation with the relevant support attached.
- The support is for people with low level support needs and risks, helping them to manage a tenancy.
- The support is for both tenants and landlords including offering tenancy sustainment, setting up direct payments to landlords, financial incentives, regular one-to-one support and being a single point of access and mediation for both tenants and landlords if needed.
- The project is due to run for two years and is funded by Wolverhampton Local Authority. We aim to support up to 30 people into private rented accommodation within the two-year period.
- We welcome and encourage landlords to meet each person before accommodation is offered.
- The Good Shepherd will be open and transparent throughout the process.
- Once accommodated, the tenant will receive regular comprehensive one-to-one sessions to ensure that all needs are met and to help encourage integration back into the community.
PRIVATE LANDLORDS
The Good Shepherd works with private landlords in Wolverhampton to secure good quality affordable accommodation in the city for people who are – or are at immediate risk of – rough sleeping. We provide enhanced support for all involved, including:
Tenants
- One-to-one flexible support
- Budgeting support and payment plans
- Tenancy and benefit support
- Support to attend appointments
- ‘Move-on’ accommodation once support needs are met
Landlords
- Source and assess tenants
- Regular property checks
- Support planned and unplanned ‘move-on’
- Support with any anti-social behaviour
- Mediation with tenants
- Arrange direct payments to the landlord
GENERAL SUPPORT
Aside from the specific projects aimed at helping people find and sustain their accommodation, we also provide help on top of our regular food service. We can offer people who are experiencing homelessness in Wolverhampton a postal address, shower and laundry facilities as well as emergency clothing, practical advice and one-to-one support.
As well as bringing a variety of different agencies into the Centre, we can also signpost and refer individuals and families to partner agencies across the city.
If you see someone sleeping rough, you can connect them to local services by going to https://www.streetlink.org.uk/ or via the Streetlink app.