CONNECT THE MAGAZINE OF THE HOMELESSNESS SECTOR
HOW DO WE END HOMELESSNESS? JOIN THE DEBATE
INVISIBLE WOMEN
21 VISIONS 1 DEBATE
EVERYTHING TO PLAY FOR
How can we improve the support available for homeless women and realise one size doesn’t fit all?
What did 21 of your colleagues from across the sector say about ending homelessness?
The Homeless Football Association on how the national sport can be so much more than just a game.
8-10 ISSN 2046-2921
17-28
38 & 39
CONNECT JULY 2012, ISSUE 46 | WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
WELCOME
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
PASSION, SKILLS & CREATIVITY:
PATHWAYS TO WELLBEING One-day conference supporting homeless people to improve their wellbeing through sports, arts and outdoor activities. Looking after our wellbeing isn’t always easy, especially for someone experiencing homelessness. But the path to independence can be assisted when someone is helped to feel more positive about who they are and the future they’re able to achieve. There are practical steps you can take to help improve the wellbeing of the people you support. This event will give you the tools to plan and run a range of sustainable, inclusive activities to help your clients improve their wellbeing.
25 SEPTEMBER 2012 | BIRMINGHAM homeless.org.uk/event-wellbeing | 020 7840 4461
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
WELCOME
IN CONNECT 46 4
UPFRONT
5
SECTOR ROUND-UP
7
NAC SPOTLIGHT
8
INVISIBLE WOMEN
Matt Harrison - Director of Business & Enterprise.
Recent news from the sector.
National Advisory Council update from Jon Cox.
What ingredients do you need for a ‘perfect’ NSNO approach? Lisa Reed explains.
34
THAT’S THE WAY THE MONEY GOES One year on from the launch of the £20m steps back to see how it’s working.
NOT WORKING
36
Paul Anders revisits the theme of CONNECT 45
THE SHORTLIST Meet the shortlisted entrants from this year’s Michael Whippman Award - in pictures.
38
EVERYTHING TO PLAY FOR In the Olympic year, Lindsey Horsfield looks at another exciting sports development that is
MEET RICK HENDERSON We invited members, clients and colleagues to interview him Homeless Link’s new CEO Rick Henderson. Here’s what he told us...
happening right here in the homelessness sector.
40
TAKE A STEP - THE HOMELESS HACK Shaun Forde took part in one of the more techsavvy steps we’ve heard about to date.
THE IMPLICATIONS OF CHANGE Kathleen Caper looks at four key Welfare Reform issues and what you need to do about them.
41
MANAGING PEOPLE In her regular column, Helen Giles looks at what we need to do to keep the creative juices flowing.
21: WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO END HOMELESSNESS? A 12 page special with 21 opinions from across the sector on ending homelessness - and an
29
RECIPE FOR A PERFECT NSNO
Homelessness Transition Fund, Samantha Rennie
experienced the Work Programme.
17
32
Jane Bancroft asks how can we improve the
our new survey of homeless people who have
14
Jon Bramley of Two Saints reports on their recent
One size doesn’t fit all in homelessness services.
and asks what we can learn from the results of
12
BETTER ENGAGEMENT, BETTER OUTCOMES personalisation pilot.
support available for homeless women.
11
30
42
MISSING PEOPLE A new helpline service can help homeless adults
invitation to join the debate
to reconnect.
A CURE FOR HEALTH
WHAT’S ON?
Poor hospital admission and discharge has been a problem for homeless people for too long. While
RESOURCES
some hospitals are getting it right, Helen Mathie asks what will it take for the rest to follow?
www.homeless.org.uk/connect
NEXT IN CONNECT: In CONNECT 47, as 2012 draws to a close, we’ll look how efforts to end rough sleeping and homelessness have evolved during the Olympic year. Story to share? Get in touch - editor@homelesslink.org.uk SUBSCRIPTIONS: to subscribe or take out additional subscriptions, please email connect@homelesslink.org.uk EDITOR: Martin Reed COVER IMAGE: Choir With No Name singing at the Royal Opera House in With One Voice.
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
3
UPFRONT
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
UPFRONT Sometimes we need to forge
we hope to hear a diverse range of solutions.
ahead, stubbornly confident that we’re on the right path. As
Do get involved. It’s essential that we hear from all
a sector, it’s something we’ve
quarters – because ultimately this will help to steer our
become good at – especially in
own work and how we campaign on your behalf.
recent years – knuckling down and getting on with things, in
To join the debate, turn to our special 12 page feature
the face of adversity.
on ending homelessness, starting on page 17, to find out what other members are saying.
But sometimes we should pause for a moment. We need to look at where we’ve come from, look ahead to where
A SHARED VISION
we’re going. We have to step back and make sure we
Our vision must not change. We want an England where
have the right blue print to achieve our ambition of
the right help prevents homelessness before it begins,
ending homelessness.
where no one lives on our streets and where anyone who has been homeless is supported to take control of their
We’ve arrived at one of those moments now. In 2010, we
future.
published ten steps to ending homelessness in England, but much has changed since then. Homelessness has
But why shouldn’t we take it a step further than that?
risen as a result of the recession, services across England have faced unprecedented cuts to funding and
MAKE THE EXCEPTION THE RULE
Government has embarked on a massive programme of
I think sometimes we presume there’s a limit on how much
welfare reform.
we expect people to move on with their lives. We put a lid on their potential. This struck me when we heard
With the arrival of Rick Henderson to take the reins as CEO
about the richly deserved OBE awarded to Jimmy Carlson
of Homeless Link, it is a good time for us to take stock and
recently.
refresh our plan to end homelessness. Jimmy, a former soldier, slept rough for 23 years – but WHAT MATTERS?
since turning his life around in the late 1990s he has
We have started running regional and national
dedicated his life to improving services for homeless
discussions with Homeless Link members about their
people. We were overjoyed for him, many of us at
priorities and ideas – tapping into the expertise,
Homeless Link having been involved with him through his
experience and passion that drive you. How can we
work with Groundswell – and you can read more about
prevent people from becoming homeless and, if they
him over the page.
do, ensure they get the support they need to regain their independence? What services do we need in place?
But as I looked through the other names on the honours
How can we fund them? These are just some of the
list – all the Kate Winslets and Gary Barlows, all the leaders
questions we want to answer.
and heads of organisations, the sort of people everyone expects to see on an honours list – I couldn’t help but
This debate is continuing throughout the summer –
question whether, on balance, there should only be one
and we want you to take part. We know that of all the
person on the list who has experienced and recovered
staff and clients across our 500 member organisations,
from homelessness.
everyone has their own ideas of what it will take to end homelessness. We know that some are optimistic about it,
Perhaps as a society, there’s room for us to rethink how we
while others are less positive. We’re a diverse group – and
gauge and acknowledge real achievement – and how
4
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
we judge what people are capable of.
NEWS
experience and skills to Homeless Link. However he won’t know many of you. I know he’ll be spending as much
I’m writing this on 2nd July, and in a few hours some of
time as possible over the next few months getting out
us will be preparing to head to the Royal Opera House
and about across the country visiting your projects and
for With One Voice. Presented by Streetwise Opera and
meeting as many of you as possible. He’ll also be at all
part of the London2012 Festival, this concert showcases
our national events and as many regional ones as he can
the skills of 300 performers who have experienced
fit in. In the meantime, you can find out a bit more about
homelessness. It’s the first time that homeless people
him in his interview on page 12.
have been featured at the heart of an Olympic event. It’s a celebration of their talents and a reminder that we
Homeless Link is a great organisation to work for. And a
shouldn’t presume a limit on people’s potential.
large part of what makes it great is the connection with our members. Your dedication and determination to end
MEET RICK HENDERSON
homelessness provides us with the energy to sustain our
I have spent the last 7 months holding the fort at
vision.
Homeless Link, and I shall now be handing over to Rick Henderson. Rick comes to us from the national
Matt Harrison
membership organisation Action for Advocacy that he
Director of Business & Enterprise
set up in 2001 and led for 11 years. He brings a wealth of
Homeless Link
SECTOR ROUND-UP We’re staying positive in this edition’s Sector Round-
years ago, but it’s great that we’re here.
up – focusing on two stories that have inspired us over the past few weeks.
“What’s been amazing is that the performers have just been so courageous. There’s been such great humour
THREE HUNDRED PERFORMERS, ONE VOICE
– in spite of some of them having to get up at 5am this
On 2 July, 300 performers who have experienced
morning to get down here. We’ve all felt very united.
homelessness took part in a concert at the Royal Opera
We’re doing something that’s changing people’s
House, Covent Garden. Presented by Streetwise Opera,
attitudes towards homelessness. It feels significant that
the aim of the event was to ensure that the talents of
we’re doing it at the London 2012 Festival. We’re telling
homeless people were showcased at the heart of London
another story about homelessness – one of achievement
2012.
and celebration. What I’d like people to take away from seeing tonight’s show is respect, understanding - and
Between acts, we caught up with Matt Peacock, founder
perhaps that homelessness is something that can happen
of Streetwise Opera and one of the organisers of the
to anyone.”
event. He said: “It’s amazing to be in the Royal Opera House – it feels like it should have happened many, many
That sentiment was echoed by Streetwise Opera
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
5
NEWS
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
LEFT: Merger performing at With One Voice RIGHT: Matt Peacock of Streetwise Opera performers Craig Williams, Jo Williams and Darren Power
the House of Lords.
after the show. Craig, who met his wife Jo through the group, said: “We’ve all been homeless, we’ve all been on
Much of Jimmy’s involvement work was done in
the streets. We’ve all had people walk past us, pretend
collaboration with Mark Flynn (another inspirational
we weren’t there. I think something like this can make
former service user, who went on to carve a successful
people open their eyes to something they couldn’t see
career as a social researcher, before he sadly passed
before.”
away in 2010) who was the lead in creating the Haven Club – a social space where people in recovery from
The concert featured solo and group artists from all over
substance misuse could meet in an alcohol and drug free
the country - from choirs and theatre groups, to singer
environment to help each other get their lives back on
song-writers and poets.
track. Starting with a £500 grant, Jimmy has now raised over £100,000 to keep the club going.
Following on from the event, Streetwise Opera has launched a petition to the International Olympics
We asked Jimmy what advice he would offer to services
Committee, calling on them to make sure that homeless
about giving more voice to homeless people. He told us:
people have a presence in all future Olympics. “I’ve always advocated that you need to listen to what Sign the petition online - go to: bit.ly/olympic-petition
homeless people are saying. There’s a vast knowledge and experience there. The only people who really know
AN OBE FOR JIMMY CARLSON
what it’s about are the people who are going through it.
Congratulations to Jimmy Carlson, who spent nearly quarter of a century living on the streets and in hostels
“People need to be involved in their support. They
– but is now set to receive an OBE for his services to
shouldn’t be mollycoddled. Most of my adult life I was
homeless people.
institutionalised – in the army, on the streets, in hostels. Independence was taken away from me.
Jimmy spent 23 years addicted to alcohol, before becoming abstinent in 1996 and dedicating his life to
“The best you can do for homeless people is to let them
improving homelessness services.
make a contribution. Do that, and it can lead to great things. Once I started helping out and volunteering, my
Over the past fifteen years, the 64 year old Londoner
confidence and self-esteem just grew. I had a voice.”
has advocated the importance of listening to the experiences of homeless people and involving them in overhauling services and improving policy. He has set up numerous client involvement groups inspiring thousands of homeless people to transform their lives and the lives of others. Through his involvement with Groundswell, Jimmy has brought homeless people into contact with ministers from both the New Labour and Coalition Governments. Most recently, he was a member of the Homeless People’s Commission which collected the views of homeless people and presented their policy recommendations to
6
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
Jimmy Carlson (right) with Mark Flynn
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
NAC
NAC SPOTLIGHT Homeless Link’s National Advisory Council (NAC) have met twice since my last column - in March and June two very different meetings that really made the most of the experience of Homeless Link’s members. www.homeless.org.uk/contact-nac The March gathering was
Review of exempt accommodation: we considered the
an extraordinary event that
potential impact of the proposed changes and the key
highlighted the significant voice
messages we would like Homeless Link to take forward.
and influence Homeless Link
These included a plea for any tiered system of payments
affords its members.
for eligible service charges to be heavily consulted on, and that it be sophisticated enough to recognise the
We were joined by a wider group
often legitimate differences in running costs of seemingly
of members, from across the
similar services. Allowances have to be enough to meet
regions, to a consultation with
actual and necessary costs for services to remain viable.
DCLG’s Interministerial Working Group on Homelessness. We discussed the role of the
Related client and organisational needs: we looked
voluntary sector in homelessness prevention, the need
at how Homeless Link can continue to help clients, staff
for practical commissioning, and provision based on an
and senior managers - through its critical influencing
integrated health, social care and housing response.
work and by providing timely information via its regional managers, best practice tools, consultancy, and targeted
In their concluding remarks members hammered home
training as final decisions are made.
the value of housing related floating support in the role of community based homelessness prevention.
THE MEMBERSHIP DEAL Independent consultant Colin Sherriff is conducting a
In June, we were asked ‘Where next for homelessness?’
review of how Homeless Link is working for its members.
and discussed at length what the end of homelessness
He would particularly like to hear from members on what
will look like – how do we know when we’ve achieved
they think ‘the deal’ should be between members and
it? Will the sector need to reconfigure to achieve this –
Homeless Link - including expectations from either side.
and if so how? And what are the pros and cons of using
To feed into that, please email him at:
the word ‘homelessness’ as a banner for the sector?
colin.sherriff@homeless.org.uk
You’ll find some of our thoughts on those questions in the special feature “Green Paper for a blueprint’ on page 19.
On a similar note, I have asked for a review of NAC membership. We want to make sure that all types and
WELFARE REFORM
sizes of service are represented, as well as the specific
We cannot avoid talking about Welfare Reform at the
regions. For that reason, we’re mapping the diversity of
moment – although many might wish we did not have to.
Homeless Link’s membership and comparing it to the
We talked about...
current NAC mix. Once we’ve identified any gaps, we will target recruitment to fill them.
Universal Credit: we discussed the devastating effect direct payments to clients might have on evictions and
WELCOMING RICK HENDERSON
abandonments, clients’ resettlement options, and levels
The council felt that unity behind a clear vision and
of debt. Accommodation based services represented
leadership is the way forward at this critical time for
at the meeting said this could make their services
homelessness services. For that reason, we eagerly
economically unviable. Move on providers suggested it
welcome the arrival of new CEO Rick Henderson.
might reduce the level of private rented sector tenancies available to our clients by as much as 70%.
Jon Cox, Two Saints - NAC Chair WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
7
FEATURES
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
INVISIBLE WOMEN In the wake of an event organised by Homeless Link, Women’s Resource Centre and St Mungo’s, highlighting the needs of homeless women, Jane Bancroft looks at some of the issues – and asks what we need to do to make sure Homeless Link’s members are able to properly support women through their services. There are plenty of examples to demonstrate how a ‘one
These situations often intensify the woman’s situation.
size fits all’ doesn’t work in homelessness services. I’d
It keeps them hidden and without access to services
argue that there’s nowhere it can be more clearly seen
that can help. A Women’s Aid Federation of England
than for women who find themselves homeless.
report published in 2009 identified that the majority of refuge clients did not seek advice from their social
A women’s journey into homelessness will often have
housing landlord before leaving home to escape
different characteristics to that of a man’s. There is
domestic violence. Many women are missing out on the
frequently a history of domestic violence, traumatic loss
opportunity of support, especially at an early stage.
of children/family and a childhood characterised by unstable housing and often abuse or neglect.
The current approach to annual street counts may also miss counting some homeless women. Counts often occur
Women’s homelessness is also characterised by a lack
in the early hours of the morning, which will exclude
of contact with statutory homelessness services. CHAIN
women who sleep rough at different times of day and in
data in London shows that on average 10-15% of rough
different locations to men. There’s a very real chance that
sleepers are women and over half of those living in
this might distort the figures, with fewer women appearing
temporary accommodation are women.
in the counts – and giving the perception that rough sleeping is largely a male phenomenon.
St Mungo’s Battered Broken Bereft report 2011 recorded that 19% of their female residents have slept rough, but
COMPLEX NEEDS
anecdotal evidence points to that figure being much
Homeless women often have extremely complex support
higher. A survey carried out by Crisis in 2006 found that
needs, including alcohol and substance use, as well as
62% of women who responded to the survey had slept
physical and mental health problems. Due to perceived
rough, some for long periods, often in places where they
challenging behaviour, they often find themselves
would not be visible and away from sites of male rough
actively excluded from services, many of which do not
sleepers.
have the resources or expertise to support them – or even adequately acknowledge the gender differences in
THE UNSEEN ISSUE
mixed gender services.
Homelessness amongst women is often a hidden problem, which explains the wide variation in reported
Here’s a snapshot of female clients in St Mungo’s services:
figures. Women frequently take extreme measures to avoid the dangers of sleeping rough – living in squats,
•
Two thirds have a mental health problem
returning to an abusive partner, engaging in sex work,
•
More than half have a substance use issue
living in crack-houses, sofa surfing – even committing
•
Half have a significant physical medical condition
minor crimes in order to be taken into custody.
•
More than a tenth have a history of being in social services care
8
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
FEATURES
Image copyright Georgina Cranston, from her www.wherefromwherenow.org project • • •
Over half have experienced violence or abuse from
who have slept rough after fleeing domestic violence or
a partner or family member
have more complex support needs. It found that 35% of
Four in ten of those who have slept rough have been
women who have slept rough left home to flee domestic
involved in prostitution
violence – and that on average, they have more support
Almost one in ten are pregnant, have given birth or
needs than those who don’t sleep rough.
have had an abortion in the last year •
Almost half of St Mungo’s female clients are mothers.
ADDRESSING NEEDS Some services are beginning to respond to the needs of
A GAP IN PROVISION
this group. With the London wide roll out of No Second
On the Homeless UK website, of the 8395 services listed
Night Out, a women-only hub has been created.
only 672 (8%) are women only. 143 of these services are in London.
While the East London Housing Partnership, is in the process of launching a project that can support women
In London there are only two women’s specialist projects
who have a local connection to East London. Crucially,
for women with high support needs: one run by The AVA
they will be able to offer specific support for multiple
Project, the other run by St Mungo’s.
needs - including substance misuse, physical ill health, mental health issues, and survival of abuse or involvement
According to a six monthly report from London’s No
in prostitution.
Second Night Out, 19% of people supported by the service were women - higher than the percentage
The project will provide support for rough sleeping or
identified in official street counts and estimates. The report
homeless women who need intensive support, including
notes: “A small number of women (five) have abandoned
a pathway of diminishing support to prepare them to live
the hub because they do not wish to stay in a room with
independently.
many men, and a number of other women have reported feeling uncomfortable about this. The hub is therefore
Meanwhile, St Mungo’s has carried out a detailed review
not fully accessible to all women, nor appropriate to their
of women using its services, based on outcomes data.
needs.” The review found that while women scored well in the The Battered, Broken and Bereft report underscores the
areas of self-care and physical health, the main areas
lack of support services to help women, especially those
of need were substance use, social and emotional WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
9
FEATURES
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
Image copyright Georgina Cranston, from her www.wherefromwherenow.org project
wellbeing, offending history and their use of time. On first
The deadline for submissions for the first theme - housing
arriving in a service, women are more likely to score lower
and homelessness services for women with complex
on the Outcomes Star than other groups – for instance,
needs – is the end of July. The second theme, to be
women scored 2.9, older male drug users scored 5 and
launched in August will be on domestic abuse and
clients waiting for a flat scored 8.7.
women’s homelessness.
What St Mungo’s realised was that their approach and
FUTURE APPROACHES
methodology were not always appropriate for women.
The specific practical solutions to women’s homelessness
The result is that they have developed their three year
might be as complex as the problems – but the principles
Women’s Strategy, overseen by a coordinator, to evolve
are not.
and improve what they are able to provide. Based on what we know about what has helped and REBUILDING SHATTERED LIVES
what has hindered homeless women to rebuild their lives,
But they also acknowledge that the same difficulties are
we need to focus our efforts around a number of key
being faced by women across the homelessness and
principles.
social care sectors. We need high quality services that can meet the Their response is Rebuilding Shattered Lives. This new
person, emotional and social needs of women, as well
campaign will run for 18 months and aims to raise
as housing, health and work. We need to make sure
awareness of women’s homelessness, to showcase good
staff are equipped to understand women’s needs, and
practice and innovation and, ultimately, to improve
develop partnerships with other agencies and sectors to
services and policy for the future.
guarantee this. We need to increase opportunities for the involvement of female clients in evolving the services that
The campaign will look at nine themes as it builds a
help them – and we need to keep talking to them, using
comprehensive national showcase of innovative and
peer research to investigate why women are currently
successful practice and policy driving lasting change for
achieving poorer outcomes than men, and what can be
women in need.
done about it.
St Mungo’s would like to hear from organisations, front-
And returning to the fact that one size really doesn’t fit all,
line workers and especially homeless women themselves,
we need to encourage the development of dedicated
about how best to prevent women’s homelessness and
projects for women.
support their recovery. These might include services that meet the complexity of needs of homeless and vulnerable women, women’s homelessness prevention services, move-on housing for women and examples of good cross-boundary working or innovative funding for services.
10
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
Jane Bancroft is Homeless Link’s London Development Officer homeless.org.uk/women For further reading, turn to the Resources section on the back cover.
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
COMMENT
NOT WORKING In CONNECT 45, we looked at what the government is doing to support homeless people into paid employment. Paul Anders revisits this theme and asks what we can learn from the results of our new survey of homeless people who have experienced the Work Programme. In the March edition of CONNECT, I expressed concerns
Work Programme customers will not get a job. This may
that the Work Programme - a key strand of the Coalition’s
disproportionately include homeless people and others
“Get Britain Working” initiatives - isn’t geared up to meet
furthest from the job market.
the needs of those furthest from the job market. By not helping homeless people to find work there will To improve our understanding of this, we carried out a
be significant costs later - estimated to be in the region
survey of clients in homelessness services. We plan to
of £26k per year per person. By comparison, the level
publish the results soon but the themes coming through
of payment available for contractors support someone
from responses so far echo our concerns.
in the JSA Disadvantaged group looks low - a nominal maximum of £6,600 over 2 years.
FOUR ISSUES, FOUR SOLUTIONS WE’RE ASKING THE GOVERNMENT TO RETHINK Barriers are not being assessed: many members feel that the housing needs of clients are either not being
DWP should create a new client group with higher
considered even if not in permanent accommodation.
payments for Work Programme contractors, to avoid
We recommend a change of practice, rather than a
those supporting JSA Disadvantaged clients earning as
major overhaul – providers of the Work Programme should
little as £800 for two years of support under payment by
ask how effective their diagnostic tools are.
results.
Quality of service: many members question whether
The funding model needs to be varied, attracting income
their clients are getting enough support with some
from other government departments or local authorities
reporting that clients never attended any training or
via Community Budgets. This might fund additional
employment activities.
services, wage incentives or specially created temporary
We recommend providers make their minimum service
jobs for this client group.
offer more specific. What can clients expect? Outcomes of disadvantaged clients must be measured Sanctions: Some services are reporting that clients have
on the ‘distance travelled’ towards being ready for work.
been sanctioned and lost some or all of their benefits. We recommend extending the duty to consider the
We strongly support efforts – from government or
vulnerability of clients – because the same things that
elsewhere - that support people into work, but based on
disadvantage people in the job market will make it
what we have seen so far, we are concerned whether
difficult to engage in a structured two year programme.
the Work Programme will work for homeless people. In particular, the use of sanctions will always present
Incorrect referral route: We are concerned that many
a significant risk to people already living in precarious
homeless people are being referred to the wrong group -
situations.
as JSA “mainstream” rather than JSA “Disadvantaged”. Referral via the wrong group is to nobody’s benefit: we
We await the publication of the government’s own Work
recommend a quick review process for providers to return
Programme performance figures later this year with
a case to JCP for reassessment.
interest.
THE ALTERNATIVES
Paul Anders is Employment Manager at Homeless Link homeless.org.uk/get-britain-working
Based on DWP’s own estimates, around two thirds of
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
11
COMMENT
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
MEET RICK HENDERSON At the beginning of July, Rick Henderson took the reins as Homeless Link’s new CEO. We invited members, clients and colleagues to interview him. This is how he answered... You’ve come to Homeless Link from your previous role
their circumstances. Advocacy
as CEO of Action for Advocacy. Can you tell us about
enables people to access
your work there?
services and support but it also
Action for Advocacy is the umbrella body for advocacy
empowers, by giving people
groups in England and Wales, with over 500 members.
the confidence and skills to
We did lots of the same kind of work as Homeless Link:
speak up for themselves. I
promoting quality; training and capacity building; policy
think there is a real need
and campaigning. We also established an advocacy
for advocacy for homeless
specific quality mark called the QPM. Before that I
people and I’d like to see
worked in community development and also managing
more developments in this
residential care services.
area in the coming years.
So it’s your first day at the Homeless Link offices.
How should homelessness
You’ve got your coffee, settled in behind your desk.
services be advocating for
What’s first on your to do list?
homeless people? How should
Well I’ve already had my first day as I’ve been coming
Homeless Link be advocating
into the office to do my induction before I officially start
for our members?
full-time. My initial priorities are meeting the team and
It’s all about giving people a
Trustees; reading up on the great work of the organisation
voice, listening to what they say
and hopefully meeting as many members as possible.
and taking it seriously. Advocacy is also about being non-judgmental:
How do you plan to get to know the sector, the people
accepting other peoples’ points of
who work in it and the people it supports?
view even if they differ from your own
There’s no substitute for legwork! I plan to visit as many
– that’s true for homeless people and
member organisations as I can during the first few weeks,
of course Homeless Link members!
to see how services are supporting homeless people and how they are implementing No Second Night Out. I also
It’s a challenging time for the
want to ask people how the cuts are affecting their ability
homelessness sector – with
to help people.
increased demand for reduced services. Members have had
How do you think your experience of advocacy might
to make difficult decisions to
translate into your work at Homeless Link?
keep providing services. How do
First and foremost I am passionate about human rights
you see Homeless Link’s role in
and about people having a voice and having choice
supporting them through that?
and control over their lives. I want to help create a
I think in two key ways: firstly,
society where every individual is valued regardless of
continuing to lobby Government
12
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
COMMENT
for increased resources to tackle homelessness and its
Two newspapers publish an article about
causes. Secondly, by supporting frontline organisations to
homelessness. One focuses on costs, facts and figures
make the most of opportunities that arise and be more
– looking to learn from the trends. The other focuses
effective with the resources they do have.
on personal experience – looking to learn from the human impact of homelessness. Which do you read
How can we make sure that the most excluded people - those with multiple needs - remain at the heart of Homeless Link’s work and at the top of the political agenda?
first? And why? Personally I’d be drawn to the human interest story every time, although I understand the importance of producing statistical evidence in support of a particular cause.
Well, the Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) work that we are doing in partnership with Clinks,
We’re going to end homelessness. Discuss. Yes we are! But it may take a while. Ending rough sleeping
DrugScope and Mind has led
is a first step towards that ultimate aim and of course
the way in this respect. Now
there has been significant progress in the past few years.
we’d like to see coordinated
The only cloud on the horizon is the current cuts that our
approaches rolled out across
member organisations are facing locally which threaten
the country and this will be
to reverse the trend and put more people on the streets.
the focus of our work next
That’s why we need to keep pressure on Government
year. We all know that timely,
at all levels to maintain their commitment to end
coordinated, person centred
homelessness as well.
support may cost more in the first instance but can save money and improve outcomes in the long term. The challenge will be getting local commissioners to invest in the work but I think the evidence speaks for itself. What are your first impressions of how the homelessness sector is working? Should we carry on as we are, should we lobby for more of the same? Or should we radically redesign ourselves in order to survive the cuts and better serve growing demand? My first impression of the sector is that
As part of our Take a Step campaign, we’re inviting
it’s a very broad church, with lots of
everyone to tell us the step they’re taking to help end
different approaches being adopted.
homelessness. What’s your step?
That can be a good thing if it’s being
I’m helping to end homelessness by ensuring that
driven by the diverse needs of local
Homeless Link continues to provide a strong and effective
communities but I think that individual
voice for our sector.
service users should be able to expect a certain level of quality and consistency
We hear you’re lead singer in a band. What discounts
from any service they access. I also think
can you offer Homeless Link members on tickets for
that as a sector we should embrace
upcoming gigs?
personalisation much more than we
Actually I’m the lead singer and guitarist in a Stranglers
currently do and that’s something I want
tribute band! I doubt if any CONNECT readers are old
Homeless Link to lead on.
enough to remember the Stranglers though... WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
13
FEATURES
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
THE IMPLICATIONS
OF CHANGE
The next 18 months will see the introduction of a raft of new caps and systems, as the Government pushes ahead with the biggest changes to welfare benefits in some 60 years. Kathleen Caper looks at four key issues and reviews the far-reaching impacts that each will have on your service and clients – and what you need to do about them. Prime Minister David Cameron told us in June that the whole thrust of his government’s welfare reform is about “transforming lives - helping people walk taller.”
2 IMPACTS ON SERVICES AN END TO THE EXEMPT ACCOMMODATION RULE
It’s an easy bit of rhetoric that probably fits better as a
The current Exempt Accommodation Rule allows eligible
description of the work you do than as a summary of a
service charges to be covered by housing benefit.
government directive – and for that reason, it’s relevant
It recognises the higher cost of providing hostel and
here.
supported accommodation – and that these costs should be met by housing benefit.
As the reforms kick in, we need to keep asking what we can do to make sure the changes don’t hold clients back
The Department of Work and Pensions believes the
from transforming their lives and walking taller – and that
Exempt Accommodation Rule is incompatible with the
they don’t hinder the work you do to support people –
fully centralised decision making model of Universal
because there’s a very real risk that they will.
Credit.
We need a welfare system that prevents homelessness,
One of the proposals debated in a consultation last
supports recovery from it, doesn’t disadvantage
autumn was to replace the Exempt Accommodation
vulnerable people – and that works with homelessness
Rule with a Local Housing Allowance for basic rent, with
agencies to help them provide the services that people
local authorities administering the payment of additional
need.
costs through an allocation from the DWP. The risks are that a vacuum will be created, where there is no explicit
Whether or not that’s how the Government sees it, we still
responsibility for meeting the higher housing costs of
need to be aware of what the changes mean, and when
vulnerable people. The DWP have been very clear that
and how we’ll feel their impact.
their plan is for any change to the system to be ‘cost neutral’ and that it is not seeking to reduce funding
UNIVERSAL CREDIT Central to the reforms is Universal Credit. It is the broad
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
umbrella that covers many of the most significant
We need your suggestions on possible ways in
changes for clients and services. Under this system,
which the payment of eligible charges in supported
claimants will receive all elements of their benefits – Job
accommodation can still take place given the
Seeker’s Allowance, housing benefit, child benefit, etc – in
centralisation of housing benefit under Universal Credit.
a single monthly payment. The individual and cumulative effects for you and your clients could be profound.
14
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
IS YOUR ORGANISATION READY?
ARE YOUR STAFF READY?
•
•
What contingency plans do you have in place for changes to the exempt accommodation rule and payment of eligible charges under How are you going to tell staff and clients about the changes – and when?
•
Can you provide evidence on behalf of current or past clients for Shared Accommodation Rate
Do they understand the changes and can they explain them to clients?
•
Universal Credit? •
FEATURES
Are they ready to help clients to access Local Welfare Assistance instead of the Social Fund?
ARE YOU INFLUENCING?
exemptions when needed? •
How will you help clients with budgeting when
•
Universal Credit is introduced?
Do you know what your local council is doing about the Social Fund/Local Welfare Assistance or Council Tax Benefit?
•
Are you making the case for access to localised support for your service and clients?
NO DIRECT PAYMENTS OF HOUSING COSTS TO LANDLORDS
levels of personal debt do your clients have – from crisis
Under Universal Credit, most working-age claimants will
expensive credit?
no longer be able to choose to have the housing benefit
2 IMPACTS ON INDIVIDUALS
component of Universal Credit paid directly to their landlord. It will be paid to them personally as part of their monthly credit.
loans and previous arrears, to pay day loans and other
MONTHLY BENEFIT PAYMENTS
The Universal Credit system of a single monthly payment to cover all benefits will present many clients with real
The DWP have accepted that there are some people for
challenges.
whom direct payments to landlords should still be made. This has led to a mechanism within Universal Credit that
The DWP says that no one will be permanently excepted
can except people identified as ‘vulnerable’ from one or
from the system. Some people will be excepted for an
all the aspects of the Universal Credit payment model. As
extended period – perhaps twelve months or more -while
a result, they might be paid more frequently than once
others will be ‘deferred’ over a shorter period to give
per month, or have housing costs paid direct to their
them time to build skills, and others will be supported -
landlord.
potentially by third parties on behalf of the DWP - through the transition to a single payment.
Our concern is that people will be left to slip into arrears before anyone identifies them as vulnerable. Or that
We are exploring the use of ‘housing type’ as a trigger
clients will not be correctly assessed as vulnerable.
for an exception. We’d like to see those who receive this exception getting at least a further six months deferral
The consequences for individuals and services could be
after moving into independent accommodation – a
devastating.
breathing space which, in those crucial first months of independent living, might mean the difference between
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
keeping or losing a tenancy.
We need your help to gather evidence to demonstrate the impact this method of benefits payment will have on
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
you and your clients. How do your clients manage their
Again, we’re looking for evidence to present to the
finances now? What issues do you have with arrears on
DWP, so please feed back. In particular we’d like to
personal service charges under the current system? What
knowWhatat barriers to self-managing their finances do WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
15
COMMENT
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
clients experience?What budgeting support or training
and other expensive credit – potentially leading to rent
has been effective for clients?
arrears, eviction and repeat homelessness.
ABOLITION OF THE DISCRETIONARY SOCIAL FUND
There is no ring fence on this budget. Nor is there a
From April 2013,the centrally administered Discretionary
turn the effectiveness of Local Welfare Assistance into a
Social Fund – Crisis Loans and Community Care Grants
local lottery for homeless people.
statutory duty to provide support. In practice, this may
– will be replaced by local authority administered Local Welfare Assistance.
WHAT CAN YOU DO? Talk to your local authority now and ask what provision
Local authorities will then have the job of delivering
they are making to deliver Local Welfare Assistance – and
support to vulnerable people in the way they deem most
in particular how they see its role in supporting homeless
appropriate to meet local needs. This might be in kind
people in the area. Offer your experience in designing
support, such as food vouchers or furniture, rather than
the scheme.
cash. We are keen to hear what they tell you. We need help to Crisis Loans and Community Care Grants have been
monitor people’s experiences of Local Welfare Assistance
vital sources of support for homeless people at key points
– so please send us any case studies, both positive and
in their transition to living independently and keeping
negative. We also welcome input directly from service
tenancies.
users.
If there is no access to cash in an emergency, there
Kathleen Caper is Senior Policy Officer at Homeless Link homeless.org.uk/wr2012
is likely to be an increase in the use of pay day loans
TIMELINE FOR CHANGE
•
Under-occupancy penalties applied to social housing. In practice this means a 14% cut to housing benefit if 1 room is deemed to be spare, or 25% if
SUMMER 2012
there are 2 or more spare rooms. The cut will be a
Benefit cheques end – claimants who receive cheques
percentage of the eligible rent.
will be encouraged to use bank or post office accounts, or given a reusable token to collect cash via PayPoint
•
outlets.
OCTOBER 2012
Council Tax Benefit: overall budget cut by 10% and LAs to administer
•
Local Housing Allowance to be linked to Consumer
Main regulations published for Universal Credit - the
Price Index (CPI) and not by market rents in each
practical details of the Act.
area
APRIL 2013 •
•
•
Universal Credit Pathfinders launch in the North
Local Welfare Assistance replaces the Discretionary
East and North West, with a six month run to test the
Social Fund, administered by local authorities.
system.
Total Benefit Cap comes into force - £500 per week
OCTOBER 2013
for families and £350 per week for single people with
Universal Credit rollout: the first phase will see some
no dependents, with some exceptions.
new claimants, as well as existing claimants with major changes in circumstances, moved to the new system.
•
Personal Independence Payment introduced as
Most people actively seeking work are expected to be on
Disability Living Allowance ends. Current working age
Universal Credit by April 2014.
DLA claimants need to reapply and be reassessed.
16
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
VISION
That’s the question we put to 21 people from across the sector in June. The next 12 pages are filled with their responses - from services, local authorities, government and people who have lived it. We’re a diverse and passionate sector. We don’t agree on everything but we have more in common than not. We don’t just want you to read. We want you to share your vision too. Alongside the opinions, you’ll also find questions that we all need to think about. So please, join the debate - tell us your own priorities and ideas. Help shape the way we think about homelessness.
DAVID CARTER
CEO, THE WHITECHAPEL CENTRE, LIVERPOOL
and any potential solution. We need a co-ordinated response across the country that breaks down these barriers and ensures everyone takes responsibility, rather than maintaining a system that seeks to move people and costs around.
We will never be able to end homelessness while we have to struggle against the artificial barriers we know are in
We should aim for seamless services that ensure a ‘no
operation in some authorities across the country. If we
wrong door’ approach to access. We need to focus on
are only able to support people assessed as having a
prevention and on providing immediate solutions that
“priority need” or who have a “local connection” we will
help people off the streets. Regardless of where they have
continue to fail many others who need our urgent help.
come from, or what their issues are, they are homeless
We need to make it easier for people to access services
and we should be able to support them.
and get off the streets. Persuading an entrenched rough sleeper to come indoors is difficult at the best of times. Having to fight with
OLIVER HILBERY
PROJECT DIRECTOR, MEAM COALITION
services or authorities to prove a local connection or a vulnerability that defines a priority need not only delays
Ending homelessness is something you shouldn’t have to
the process, but it can sabotage working relationships
do alone. Too often, services can end up feeling like they WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
17
VISION
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
are the only ones supporting those hardest to help. The
representing the needs of the vulnerable groups in their
willingness to act is admirable but ultimately exhausting;
communities.
particularly when we know that sustainable solutions require input from a range of agencies such as substance
There are beacons of hope out there, but right now
misuse, mental health, criminal justice, housing and social
they’re the exception - and they shouldn’t be. My role is
care.
to challenge what we’re doing – to make sure we keep aspiring to the best.
The best cross-sector partnerships can create a shared responsibility for people facing multiple needs and new ways of working that are beneficial to all. Of course, building such partnerships is never easy, but if
DAVID FORD
CHAIR, HOMELESS LINK’S EXPERT ADVISORY PANEL
they are vital to ending homelessness, shouldn’t we all be doing more?
Having experienced homelessness, and since then worked for and with local authorities, paid providers, faith
Working better together across sectors is a ‘must-do’ not
groups and service user groups within the sector, I really
a ‘nice–to-do’ for the future. Let’s start now.
feel that we could be at the start of an incredibly exciting time.
PROFESSOR STEVE FIELD
CHAIRMAN NHS FUTURE FORUM AND NATIONAL INCLUSION HEALTH BOARD
At the moment we are going through a period of turmoil, of change. It’s a time for evaluating and reorganising ourselves as a sector. It is full of frustration and disruption. Pressure on services increasing while funding is
The NHS alone won’t end homelessness, but it will play
decreasing.
an essential role. The new health commissioning structure shouldn’t just focus on diagnosing and treating the
But when I look at the resources that we have between
medical conditions of homeless people. It must also
us – leadership from local authorities, technical skills and
become a leader in creating coordinated services that
ability from paid providers, time, space and good will
work for vulnerable groups.
from the volunteer organisations and the experience of service users – I believe that we can become better than
We need to advocate on behalf of vulnerable people.
we have ever been at tackling homelessness.
The Secretary of State has an obligation to make sure that they remain a priority for the NHS and has supported the
If we work in partnership together and maximise the
important National Inclusion Health Board that is charged
resources that we have available, we can go a long
with championing the needs of the most vulnerable,
way to tackling homelessness. This does not mean we
including the homeless. At a more local level, Health and
have to lose our individuality as organisations. Far from it.
Wellbeing boards will also have a key role challenging
What it does mean is that we should share our resources,
commissioners to allow levels of service flexibility that
collaborate on joint projects, work as one team and rise
ensure no one is left out.
to the challenges that we face.
Time and time again, I hear about GPs turning homeless
How much better would it be if we shared our skills, time,
people away, denying them access to essential care. But
space, goodwill and experience amongst ourselves? How
the NHS belongs to everyone – that’s in its constitution. It
much more efficient as a sector would we become?
has a duty of care to every social group. This is a time of opportunity, not of despair, and through Health Education England has a big responsibility in this –
collaboration we can overcome the old perceptions of
educating the health professionals of the future to make
homeless and build a future full of hope.
sure they understand the needs of homeless patients and the risks they face. I’m always pleased to hear about positive work that is making a difference – but just as
CAROL HAMLETT
let down.
DIRECTOR, TRANSFORMING CHOICE, LIVERPOOL
The future depends on collaboration. We need
Ending homelessness isn’t just about finding
integrated health, social care, housing and third sector
accommodation. We all know that. I’m not saying we
initiatives, with a subgroup in every local Wellbeing board
aren’t short of affordable and suitable homes. But it’s
importantly, I want to hear fewer stories of people being
18
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
TAKE A STEP TO END HOMELESSNESS WE NEED YOUR HELP TO PUT THE VISION INTO PRACTICE It’s time to articulate our vision of an end to homelessness. It’s time to make sure that all our influencing, policy and practice work is relevant in the current environment, given the rise in homelessness and the funding cuts that you have had to manage.
Why?
VISION
more complicated than that. The number one priority for the voluntary sector should be creating environments for individuals to begin to strengthen their own foundations. This might sound grand, but it’s actually very simple. It’s about having the right people to implement a person centred approach. Understanding and implementing it are two very different things. Less is always more. We can’t end homelessness without prevention. Through research we know that schools and colleges should be able to identify children and young people who may need extra support – and this support must be provided at the earliest opportunity. The same goes for adults who become homeless, through family breakdown and financial issues – again, that support has to be there for them, at or before the point of crisis. Ending homelessness will involve a lot of changes. Some won’t be popular. If an individual has reached a point where they are so overwhelmed that the best they can do is get drunk all day and sit in the street, then someone comes along and starts feeding and clothing them so they are able to spend all of their benefits on cider – what motivation do they have to change? What do acts of charity like that
We need to be ready for the next general election. We need to have answers ready for Government should the opportunity arise to think big.
really say about a person’s worth. Who gains the most from the act? The giver or the receiver? I think to really end homelessness we have to look at how
And we don’t plan to do this alone. You’re the experts. You know the local situation. We need your views and ideas – whether you’re a frontline worker or a CEO or if you have experienced homelessness directly and had to rely on the services of our members.
The issues that matter
we validate each other as human beings. We have to ask the question: how can we really help?
EWA SADOWSKA
CEO, BARKA UK, LONDON Ending homelessness is achievable, but how quickly we get there depends on an evolution of political and
On the pages that follow, you’ll find questions that we believe are key to the future of the sector. You don’t have to answer them all - but we need to know what you think about the issues that matter to you.
administrative culture. We need to improve the training of employees both within the sector and in related disciplines. We need to develop accessible housing projects created by civil society organisations, and self-help projects for
JOIN THE DEBATE ONLINE... www.endhomelessness.org.uk
excluded groups. We need to see social and vocational reintegration centres for migrants and refugees – embracing both European and non-European migrants. Central government has an obligation to enable and support local partnerships for social inclusion. We need to break down current perceptions of homeless people – both amongst the general public and across WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
19
VISION
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
the sector. We need to abandon the perception that homeless people do not want to change. And within the sector we need to stop perceiving homeless people
WHO?
WHO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
as service users – but rather as citizens who have experienced difficulties that could happen to anyone.
To achieve our vision of an end to homelessness, we need
The relationships with homeless people shouldn’t be
to have a shared understanding of who we are talking
about filling in forms, but about real interactions that lead
about. Our focus in this paper is single homeless people
to real and long-term positive change.
and couples without dependent children. This is because as a group they have very limited statutory protection,
The success of Barka’s work depends on peer to peer
unlike families with children, and are often a low priority
support. We believe the role of people who have
for mainstream services.
experienced homelessness is crucial. By speaking from experience and sharing the story of overcoming
Homelessness covers a wide range of individual
homelessness and social exclusion, they can bring hope
situations, from those in purely housing need through
and demonstrate that it is never too late to return from
to those with the most complex and multiple needs
the darkest parts of human existence.
facing chronic exclusion. Some groups of people are more vulnerable to homelessness because they have
GARY STANIFORTH
CEO, THE HIDDEN HOMELESS LTD, BRADFORD
particular support needs or have fewer rights. There are specific minority groups, who are more likely to be hidden or have their needs over-looked – for instance: women; young people; and those from Black and Minority Ethnic communities.
We can’t end homelessness without dropping priority status. It’s a discriminatory, biased and blind approach
Whatever a person’s needs we believe that no one
– a 30 year old ideal for a 30 year old problem, and too
should ever be in a position where they are without
many subsection fixes are just not working. Having been
somewhere safe to live.
on the receiving end of this legislation I know full well the implications for someone in crisis who just needs help.
QUESTIONS...
Scotland’s 2012 homelessness commitment, introduced
How do you describe homelessness?
in 2003, places a duty on every council to provide every homeless person with a settled home. This means that
Who is homeless in your area?
by the end of this year, councils need to have abolished the distinction between priority and non-priority need, extending the same right to all unintentionally homeless households. If Scotland can do it, why can’t we? Many of us have been saying this for years. What gives anyone the right to say one person deserves to be looked after over and above another, when at the
Should we have a greater focus on the various minority groups within the homeless population? Who do you think there should there be a greater focus on? What do you think of the Ethos approach described below?
point of crisis? No duty of care because you’re single? That has absolutely nothing to do with the trauma of
ETHOS, a European Typology of Homelessness and
finding you have nowhere to go and no one to turn to.
Housing Exclusion, classifies people who are homeless according to their living or “home” situation. There are 4
Empty properties in the hundreds of thousands, skilled
main concepts:
men and women without jobs, a youth unemployment figure of over a million, a building trade waiting for
•
develop properties – offer the same training to homeless
• •
violence
schemes that will regenerate them. • of ownership and pride in something they have earned
20
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
Insecure Housing – threatened with severe exclusion due to insecure tenancies, eviction, domestic
Take the broken, unused buildings and donate them to
Support homeless people to do this. Give them a sense
Houselessness – with a place to sleep but temporary in institutions, hostels or shelters
people in hostels – professional training from building tradesmen currently sitting about with nothing to do.
Rooflessness – without a shelter of any kind, sleeping rough
the market to grow. We need to train young people to
Inadequate Housing – in caravans on illegal campsites, in unfit housing, in extreme overcrowding.
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
THE VISION
WHAT WILL AN END TO HOMELESSNESS LOOK LIKE?
VISION
and worked for – then discount their rent for the hard work they put in. Come on Mr Cameron, I’m an old lag, and I could do a better job with the housing crisis than you.
Everyone needs an individual solution, but how do we measure whether this is happening? We may never stop everyone becoming homeless, but we should have the right services in place so no
ANNE DOYLE
HOMELESSNESS STRATEGY MANAGER, LIVERPOOL CITY COUNCIL
one remains homeless. There are people vulnerable to homelessness, people at different stages of homelessness
I definitely think ending homelessness and rough sleeping
and people who are have recently left homelessness
in this country is an achievable aim which everyone in the
behind who are vulnerable to becoming homeless again.
sector should be working towards.
Any measures of an end to homelessness need to reflect
Changing the legislation by abolishing the requirement
these different stages.
to be in priority need, as they have done in Scotland,
QUESTIONS...
would be the most effective way of achieving this. In addition to being able to radically increase the number of people that local authorities have a duty to assist, this
If you were telling a friend what a country without homelessness would look like, how would you describe it?
would clearly demonstrate that homelessness and rough
At what point does someone stop being homeless? Is it after 6 or 12 months or is about someone’s attitude?
By also continuing the focus on prevention, relaxing the
sleeping are unacceptable in this country in this day and age.
local connection criteria and ensuring there are proper solutions available for people with no recourse to public funds, we would be able ensure that no one is in the
How should we measure an end to homelessness? Should it be based on outcomes or hard figures? What evidence would we need to demonstrate an end to homelessness? Are we collecting it already? Should we approach homelessness as a rights issue?
position where they are homeless and rough sleeping with no route out of their situation.
LISA LEWIS
CHIEF EXECUTIVE, DOORWAY, NORTH WILTSHIRE Homelessness can never be solved until the public’s perception of the issues surrounding homelessness is directly challenged. Charities need to be able to work in partnership with statutory organisations in advocating on behalf of those who are marginalised and have no voice in society. However, in order to achieve this, the smaller local projects which receive little or no statutory funding, are entirely reliant on the financial generosity, and the support, of their local communities. Community engagement is harder in rural areas where homelessness is far more hidden than in the bigger cities. The public are not confronted with the stereotypical image of rough sleepers bedding down and therefore will be ignorant of there being a local problem in the first place. Additionally, the general public does not deem this topic WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
21
VISION
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
to be an attractive one. The complex needs surrounding homelessness are still society’s greatest taboos; it is not considered good practice to talk about substance dependencies or mental health problems. People don’t
PREVENTION
HOW CAN YOU PREVENT PEOPLE BECOMING HOMELESS?
want to hear that homelessness could happen to anyone; they don’t want to have to consider what might happen
Homelessness is all too preventable and often happens
to them if they suddenly found themselves at risk of losing
after a chain of other events. As recent rough sleeping
their home. It’s far too easy to remain in a small, safe and
and statutory homeless figures show new people are still
secure bubble rather than have to consider the darker
becoming homeless for the first time every day. Wider
aspects of the real world on their doorstep.
changes such as welfare reform have the potential to increase homelessness.
However, by educating our local communities we can reduce the fear and prejudice, the hostility and
Homelessness often happens because other services
aggression against the homeless and the marginalised.
have not given the right support to people at the right
But most importantly we can challenge and overturn the
time, or people have not known where to go. Individuals
public’s perception, thereby recruiting them in the fight to
arriving in homeless services with multiple needs could
end homelessness.
have had these needs met at different points, in housing options, by mental health, in the criminal justice system,
MILKA KIMANI
TALENT CHAMPION & TRUSTEE, THE FOYER FEDERATION, LONDON
whilst in hospital. Some suggest that we as a sector are mainly here to deal with the crisis not to prevent it happening. If we are to end homelessness, we need learn from who has become homelessness or who is rough sleeping to prevent others taking the same path.
Homelessness in London has become increasingly worrying in recent years and with the recession having left
QUESTIONS...
a damaging impact to many in the capital, it is now even more vital to look at solutions that are sustainable and can be used to end homelessness.
Do you believe that you have a role in preventing homelessness? If yes, what is it that you do?
In order to find long lasting solutions it could be useful to look at best practice strategies used in neighbouring EU countries, for example where the issue of homelessness
How do we make homelessness every agency’s business?
is less apparent as a result of targeting the cause, such as the provision of temporary accommodation, and expecting these ‘four walls’ to be the solution. Causes may include debt, addiction, employment etc. which if not targeted may result in the issue of homelessness resurfacing, creating a cycle rather than a
How early should specific “homelessness prevention” work start? Should we focus on “acute” intervention or should we be pushing agencies working with children to recognise their role? If we do this how would you measure it?
sustainable solution to the problem.
JANE SLOWEY
CHIEF EXECUTIVE, THE FOYER FEDERATION, LONDON Youth homelessness is rising. Cuts in public funding are
Support during transition from prison, care, hospital is important – how do you ensure maintenance and consistency of support at key transition points? How can we identify as early as possible those at risk of tenancy breakdown?
putting huge pressures on services. Around 1 in 5 young people growing up in Britain today will struggle to realise their potential as active and engaged young citizens. We are failing these young people. We lump them together as ‘disadvantaged’, ‘disconnected’ and ‘disaffected’. Services pick them up when they are in crisis and then move them on as quickly as possible - as soon as they can ‘cope’ with their disadvantage.
22
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
Can you tell us about a good service locally that you believe is contributing towards preventing homelessness?
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
ACHIEVING AN END
WHAT NEEDS TO BE IN PLACE TO ACHIEVE AN END TO HOMELESSNESS?
VISION
We label them by what they are not (“NEET”), by the ‘problems’ they have (“teenage parents”), the perceived risks they pose (“care leavers”) or what they have done in the past (“young offenders”). We then construct services to tackle these ‘deficits’.
Homelessness is not just about housing. Most homeless people have other support needs as well.
Too many services, however well intentioned, end up seeing the young people they work with as victims or
It is also about the right support being available and an
recipients of charity. This is in stark contrast to the way
individual’s needs being addressed in an integrated and
in which we invest in the talent and aspirations of those
comprehensive manner. We have been working on a
young people who make their journey to adulthood
range of issues that need to be addressed – but given
through higher education.
the economic, social and political changes that have happened recently, we want to understand if the needs
There is a huge social injustice here. We need to turn the
of people have changed.
current ‘support’ model on its head and begin to invest in the talents and aspirations of ALL our young people.
What are the biggest priorities facing you at the moment
Housing is a key ingredient in the transition to adulthood –
when giving support?
but it’s not the whole recipe.
•
Criminal justice
Until we understand that, we’ll never end youth
•
Welfare support including Universal Credit, Housing
homelessness.
Benefit •
Education and employment
•
Health
•
Migration
•
Housing
•
Multiple needs
•
Housing options and advice
I know that David Cameron has houses in Downing Street,
•
Family support, mediation, bereavement = something
Chequers and Chipping Norton – oh, and has he another
around relationships
in London? Despite this excess, I am sure that even he
Domestic abuse
understands the importance of a home to every one of
•
QUESTIONS...
GILL BROWN
CHIEF EXECUTIVE, BRIGHTER FUTURES, STOKE ON TRENT
us. A home gives us warmth, shelter and privacy. It
Are any topics missing from this list? If yes, what are they?
contributes to our sense of stability, of belonging, of
What are the three issues that would be make the greatest difference to ending homelessness? And what would be the solutions that you would like to see?
It is therefore a truly cruel irony that we have turned
identity. It is a fundamental part of being human.
homes from being essential person makers into crude investments. Unlike our European neighbours, Britain has totemised home ownership and accorded it huge financial rewards. In order to give houses this value,
Do you have any other comments you would like to make on any of the other points?
successive governments have kept house building down. Homelessness is not inevitable; it’s the result of failing to build enough homes. This truth is disguised by political debate that concentrates on rationing rather than building. The latest pronouncements typify this; no social housing for the well paid, no housing benefit for the under 25s, no houses for rioters. It’s a distraction. Ken Loach’s Cathy Come Home was an effective wake up call to a society that was failing to meet the basic human need of providing its members with somewhere to live. Housing Associations must publicise the suffering that we see in order to provide voters and politicians with the WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
23
VISION
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
real story about housing and homelessness. If we believe that an affordable home could be available for all, our mantra must be: build more homes.
AMANDA CROOME
MANAGER, BOOTH CENTRE, MANCHESTER
NO RETURN
HOW DO YOU SUPPORT PEOPLE TO SUSTAIN A LIFE AWAY FROM HOMELESSNSS AND STOP THEM RETURNING? Critical to ending homelessness is ensuring that people sustain lives away from homelessness and don’t end up
Ending homelessness has to remain our aim, but in
back on the streets or back at the local authority through
the current climate of welfare reform, cuts in services,
a lack of support.
economic problems and more and more people walking through the doors of day centres (and other services) in
Loneliness and isolation are important contributing factors
desperate situations, it feels almost impossible.
to an individual being unable to sustain tenancies and dropping back into homelessness. Befriending schemes
But what is important is that we don’t lower the standards
and services that take over from the support offered by
of our services or the expectations of what individual
the homeless sector help to integrate people into the
homeless people can achieve, otherwise we are going
mainstream community. Having respite care in place can
to lose much of what has been improved in the sector
avoid the jeopardy of people walking away from their
over the last few years. So, for example, we need to
accommodation, losing it all and having to start all over
keep aiming to run the highest quality arts programmes,
again.
provide the most effective support to help people get jobs and expand advice provision to meet the increasing
QUESTIONS...
demand and ensure we don’t return to the soup kitchen and night shelter culture of the last century as a way of coping with the increasing numbers of homeless people. We mustn’t just provide a sticking plaster when we have a solution and we just need to keep finding creative ways
What support should be available for people to ensure that they sustain a life away from homelessness? How long should it be available for?
of making it happen.
JACK DROMEY MP
SHADOW HOUSING MINISTER With over a million young people out of work and with the country in a double-dip recession made in Downing Street, mums and dads all over Britain worry about a lost generation of young people. I am writing this just days after they were presented with the Prime Minister’s plan to help them - remove housing benefit for the under 25’s. Housing benefit is an in-work benefit. Many of those on housing benefit work hard and play by the rules just as those living at home with their parents do. After all, inwork households accounted for almost all (93%) of the increase in the number of claimants during 2010 and 2011. There are also thousands of vulnerable young people who receive housing benefit. There are those who moved to escape abusive relationships or severely overcrowded parental homes, those whose parents are deceased or refuse to accommodate them and there are those whose own lives have broken down and need help and support to re-build them.
24
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
Are there unintended consequences of the services we offer? For example rewarded behaviour, sustaining people as homeless? Is it the role of the homelessness sector to provide this or should other agencies take responsibility? If homeless agencies are to provide this, what needs to change to make it happen? How do you ensure there is support in place for people, including respite care, when they get into difficulty? Do you have any examples of practice which have helped people sustain their tenancies?
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
FUNDING
HOW SHOULD SUPPORT FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE BE FUNDED?
VISION
They are helped by outstanding projects such as the YMCA Orchard in my own constituency of Erdington, which has rebuilt the lives of hundreds of young homeless people, helping them into work or training. But under these plans it would face closure.
Until 2003 there was no consistent funding stream for support for homeless people. Between 2003-2009, there
The YMCA England Chief Executive, Ian Green, has
was a consistent named, ring-fenced funding stream.
described these proposals as “absurd” and suggested
During this time, the sector grew, improved practice
that they show “a real lack of understanding of the
and, in many areas, had a clear champion in the local
potential long term consequences of such a policy”.
authority. The truth is, removing housing benefit for all under 2009 saw the ring-fence for this funding removed, and
25’s would punish those in low-paid work or on an
there is now no requirement to fund support for homeless
apprenticeship denying them the ability to keep a roof
people locally. As the pressure of cuts has been felt
over their heads and it would remove the safety net from
by Local Authorities and the need to meet statutory
those who lose their job and need help and support to
requirements, there has been a slow erosion of funding
get them back into work. But it wouldn’t end there, it
towards homeless people in many areas.
would also present serious problems for vulnerable young people and send youth homelessness soaring.
The approach has varied widely from area to area, but it is clear that there should be no localism without
Instead of punishing those who are trying to get on and
safeguards in place for homeless people.
make a start in life, the Government should be focussing on building more affordable homes, creating thousands
Currently, all support for homeless people is through
of jobs and apprenticeships for our young people and
agencies rather than direct budgets. This can remove
driving down homelessness.
any element of choice and control for the individual and leaves them dependent on the provision commissioned locally.
QUESTIONS... How do we ensure that support for homeless people is funded locally?
UNA BARRY
DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE, DEPAUL UK, LONDON The call to end homelessness has its place. However, I think this is unlikely in the current climate. Homelessness is on the increase. The latest DCLG figures show rising
How should funding for homeless people be allocated?
demand. Depaul UK Nightstops across the country have seen demand from individual young people treble in the last three years. Demand at our York nightstop has
Is it right to separate out housing, housing management charges and support costs?
doubled in the last year alone. The benefit cuts will put more pressure on family
Is payment by results a realistic option for our client group? What are the challenges?
relationships, the biggest cause of youth homelessness. Of course we are in a difficult climate and we have all
Are hostels a financially viable model? What could replace them?
looked at ways of being more cost effective as have local authorities. But let’s not kid ourselves that we can end something like homelessness by thinking it! We need
Is Housing First a better model, with housing provided alongside intensive support? Would the Housing First model work better for some individuals who can’t conform to the restrictions of hostels? What about individuals who don’t fulfil entry criteria to hostels?
to continue the successful partnership that has worked between government and the voluntary sector over the past 20 years, to get young homeless people from emergency housing to longer term accommodation and employment. The health service’s crucial role in improving the outcomes of young homeless people has to be fully realised to prevent 16 and 17 year olds becoming homeless. The housing sector needs to retain, not WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
25
VISION
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
abandon, its focus on homelessness. Much more needs to be done to prevent homelessness
AND FINALLY...
WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE CONSIDER?
happening in the first place, starting with young people in schools and within families, and those with mental health
Have we missed anything?
problems and substance problems. All local authorities should all have the option of at least a Nightstop facility.
What else do you think we should think about?
End Homelessness? Not yet, but we must prevent it
What else is on your mind as you seek to ensure homeless people continue to receive the support they need?
getting worse!
ALISON GELDER
DIRECTOR, HOUSING JUSTICE, LONDON I think ending homelessness is not a goal that can be achieved by the homelessness sector, by government (local or national), by homeless people themselves - or even by faith communities (though that won’t stop me encouraging churches to pray about it). However, neither do I think it is an impossible aim. I honestly desire to be in the position where the work of Housing Justice is no longer needed and we can wind up and put our energies (and our donors’ money) to use elsewhere.
TAKE A STEP TO END HOMELESSNESS
The more I learn about the causes of homelessness the more it is clear to me that this is a whole community issue and not just the concern of those immediately affected by it. So my number one priority is to convince everyone outside the sector, everyone who has never been homeless or at risk of homelessness themselves, that homelessness is their problem too. We need to change the climate of opinion. Then, building on this, I would make prevention and support (in the widest, most personal and most imaginative of senses) the golden thread through all our work. Collectively we are getting better and better at
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO PUT THE VISION INTO PRACTICE It’s time to articulate our vision of an end to homelessness.
the sticking plaster/picking up the pieces work. Now we need to turn our attention to stopping people becoming homeless in the first place – or second or fifty first place, in the case of those caught in the revolving door.
JOHN HAMBLIN
CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SHEKINAH, DEVON Arriving at the midway point of 2012, it is interesting to reflect on the ambition of ending homelessness. I remember clearly being at the Homeless Link event when the concept of ending rough sleeping by 2012 was announced. What amazed me most was that, with some of the providers, it went down like a lead balloon. For some, the primary concern seemed more about retaining empires, rather than seeing an end to the unacceptable
26
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
JOIN THE DEBATE ONLINE... www.endhomelessness.org.uk
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
VISION
sight of sections of our community residing on the streets.
independence and a critical distance. The ultimate
Whatever your views, in civilised society, the ambition of
effectiveness of a charity is sometimes compromised
ending rough sleeping and homelessness should morally
more by winning statutory funding than by losing it. Our
be an aspiration for us all.
voice should never be bought by any funder.
That said, and without wanting to sound like a stuck
We can’t ignore the underlying causes of homelessness
gramophone record, I still believe the sector has to
such as family breakdown, economic inequality and a
seriously address the issue of inappropriate labelling of
shortage of available housing. As Desmond Tutu said ‘We
clients. It might be useful for funding bids and PR, but
shouldn’t just be pulling people out of the river. We should
does little to challenge public perception. It is also vital
be going upstream to find out who’s pushing them in.’
that greater investment is made towards prevention - diverting people before they need homelessness services. We all know who tomorrow’s clients are going to be, so why do we still wait to get them into services before we start to engage with them?
MARK BRENNAN
PROJECT COORDINATOR, CARIS ISLINGTON CHURCHES COLD WEATHER SHELTER
As we move forward, we should not be shuffling the paper clips trying to redefine concepts of ending homelessness
Homelessness is a ubiquitous and apparently
to be more acceptable to the Sector we work in.
unquenchable dilemma. Bold pronouncements have
Homelessness is devastating for individuals. It’s bad for
been made to put an end to rough-sleeping and
society. If we can’t accept those facts, we’re working in
‘eradicate’ homelessness. While these may be worthwhile
the wrong sector.
declarations to make as clarion call to rally people and resources around alleviating undoubted suffering,
JON KUHRT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WORK, WEST LONDON MISSION Homelessness in the UK is a pan-European issue. When
homelessness is not something that can be eradicated. It simply is, just as ‘home’ is. Home does not exist without homelessness and vice versa, so we need to embrace it and understand it – all of us. And that makes homelessness everyone’s responsibility.
you allow the free movement of labour, you cannot avoid the free movement of poverty and on London’s streets
We have a London-centric multi-million pound
we are increasingly seeing the painful reality of EEA
homelessness industry in this country that is learning and
poverty and inequality. In addition, of course there are
developing and evolving. It is an evolution I am very
the contemporary domestic issues of benefit reductions,
optimistic about as I witness and participate – and the
funding cuts, growing unemployment and family
rapidly growing church shelter network is playing a critical
breakdown. This cocktail produces street homelessness.
role in this across the UK.
With the increasing flow of new rough sleepers, the
A vision for the UK-wide church shelter network is to bring
No.1 priority in homelessness work is preventing these
an end to the migration of homeless people into the
people from becoming entrenched on the streets.
centre of London. The network is proving to be a catalyst
Responsive and assertive outreach and rigorous
for effective cross-sector working where everyone can
unbiased assessment of need are fundamental and well
take responsibility for homelessness and support homeless
as effective reconnection services and other realistic
people in their communities, where they stand a better
pathways make the difference.
chance of overcoming it, becoming stronger, and more independent.
Homelessness charities should have a healthy scepticism about top-down initiatives, which promise ‘to solve the issue’ but are driven by media headlines and statistical gymnastics. There is no substitute for high quality,
PAUL ANDERS
EMPLOYMENT MANAGER, HOMELESS LINK
committed practice. What happens on the pavement is more important than what is said on the platform.
The game has moved on – we have to move with it.
We need to remember the political backdrop to
Many years ago, when the principles of client
our work. We should not be used to paper over the
involvement were being adopted, a common question
cracks in society. We should work closely with the local
was: “Is this the bit where we do client involvement?” You
and regional government but we need to maintain
don’t hear that any more. User involvement is embedded WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
27
VISION
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
in everything we do, from engagement to move-on –
faces are wider and more complex than their need for
even in policy direction, which now emphasises choice
supported accommodation.
and personalisation. In my own organisation this approach is effective but still We need to start thinking about employability and skills
work in progress.
in the same way. The Government takes the view that progression towards employment should be integral to
We want to be involved in the lives of young people not
support, not merely a desirable end point. This is backed
just by meeting their housing needs, or signposting them
up by CESI’s ‘Evaluation of the Single Homeless Enterprise
to other services – but by exploring with them their hidden
Project’ for St Mungo’s, which found that employment
and untapped skills and gifts.
support can help people manage the symptoms of things like mental health problems or addiction.
This investment-based approach goes further than traditional support planning can. It recognises that
Changes to benefits and employment support have
people are unique and have individual assets. Meeting
introduced another reason we can’t ignore employment:
need and solving problems are not the critical drivers to
agencies that don’t support their clients towards
working with young people.
employability could be actively harming them. The threat of sanctions and mandatory participation in long-term
This means developing different activities where young
initiatives such as the Community Action Programme is
people can test and explore their skills in a creative
real and potentially damaging.
environment. An example for us is our off-site Football and Life Academy. Whereas previously we simply
Like anyone in the sector, I’ve seen the impact of cuts
played football, now we use it as a platform for wider
on services, and know that employment prospects
engagement to deliver life-skills and to discover and
have been damaged in the current climate. This means
invest in the hidden strengths that emerge out of a wide,
that we have to redouble our efforts to support clients
engaging context.
in this way – with government increasingly focussed on sustained employment, agencies who don’t do this will
But the challenges to this approach are considerable.
be putting themselves and their service users at risk.
While homelessness increases and budgets shrink, we are trying to change staff culture, find funding for activities,
RICHARD HOLMES
OPERATIONS MANAGER, CREWE YMCA
test new approaches and ideas – and find the critical interface with partners who will invest with us. For us, the challenge of doing things differently is worth it.
We need a new language and approach to tackling youth homelessness. Most of the issues young people
28
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
More importantly, it is what young people deserve.
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
COMMENT
A CURE FOR HEALTH Poor hospital admission and discharge has been a problem for homeless people for too long. Some hospitals are getting it right, says Helen Mathie, but what will it take for the rest to follow? When the Department of Health commissioned us to
overall the picture is bleak. In our report we outlined a
carry out research and come up with recommendations
number of measures that the NHS, local authorities and
towards better support for homeless people in hospital,
our sector should take to reverse the situation.
it was a perfect opportunity to set tougher expectations - not just of the NHS, but of all agencies that need to
SO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
be involved when a homeless person enters and leaves
At the launch of the report in May, Care Services Minister
hospital.
Paul Burstow said he was “challenging the rest of the
The research, published in May - and completed with the input of St Mungo’s and their excellent peer researchers - found that most homeless people who end up in hospital are discharged without making sure they have accommodation to go to. They are sometimes discharged straight on to the street, often without their underlying health problems being addressed and with no
NHS to learn from the best and make it [good practice] the norm”. We feel positive that the full backing of government and the Department of Health will provide the impetus needed for change. The Department’s Inclusion Health Board has already been tasked with taking forward some of the report’s recommendations – and we believe some of the new NHS structures should play a key role to ensure the issue remains a priority.
discharge plan. Contact with a GP to ensure follow up care regularly doesn’t happen, and hospital staff rarely
But while the NHS has much to learn, there’s a challenge
check with a patient’s hostel that they can safely return,
for our own sector, and a reminder of the importance
or even whether they have one to go to.
of joining up efforts and resources at a time when everybody is under increasing pressure.
Some people who took part in our research described the mistrust and prejudice encountered in some hospitals
We are going to keep campaigning on this. The good
- from one person being referred to by nurses as ‘a tramp’
practice that we’re seeing could and should be adopted
to another being turned away by security guards when
universally. My hope is that, in a few years, we won’t still
he was coughing up blood.
be asking for the same thing.
However, there are some excellent examples of good
Download the full report - Improving hospital admission and discharge for people who are homeless: bit.ly/connect46-hospital
practice, such as University College Hospital in London and Arrowe Park on the Wirral, where staff have initiated link worker schemes or joint protocols, and made huge improvements to the care that patients receive. But
Helen Mathie is Homeless Link’s Policy Manager
INFLUENCE LOCAL HEALTH
to feed into commissioning. These might include local
What is the best way to make sure local health
and Wellbeing Boards, and your local JSNA.
services take your clients’ needs into account?
HealthWatch meetings, housing subgroups of your Health
SHARE YOUR EXPERTISE with commissioners. They need
MAKE CONTACT with the key players in your Health and
good evidence like operational data and effective
Wellbeing Boards and Clinical Commissioning Groups.
practice case studies - and you can support your clients
What are their priorities and how does homelessness fit
to share their experiences.
into their agenda? IDENTIFY LOCAL CHANNELS for voluntary sector groups
For more information, read our Health Influencing guide: bit.ly/connect46-ih WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
29
COMMENT
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
BETTER ENGAGEMENT BETTER OUTCOMES Jon Bramley of Two Saints reports on their recent personalisation pilot – looking at why what it has taught them will be used to evolve other Two Saints services. For six months from August 2011 a new, person-centred
The comprehensive Person Centred Support Planning
approach to working with homeless clients was piloted
assessment is completed at a pace, place and time that
in Two Saints’ West Berkshire services at a 55-bed direct
suits the client – invariably within two weeks of entry.
access hostel, a 16-bed move-on service and the Floating Support service.
The Outcomes Star is central to this process – based on a set of open but structured questions, enabling clients to
We trained staff across the three services to deliver
identify where they are and where they would like to be
support based on Person Centred Assessment and
in all aspects of their life. It looks at money management,
Support Planning (PCASP), an approach in which the
emotional and mental health, and the meaningful use
client develops their own support plan, determined by
of time. By reviewing their current resources and social
‘what is important to them’ (aspirations, maintenance,
capital, the process builds on clients’ strengths rather
etc.) and ‘what is important for them’ (safety, wellbeing,
than focusing on deficits.
etc.). We then support the client to identify actions that will CLIENTS IN THE DRIVING SEAT
move them towards their goals, the skills and resources
It is essential that clients are central to the creation,
available to them – including friends, family and other
and delivery, of Assessments and Support Plans. These
agencies – and the options that exist to help them
processes are driven by the client, for the client. The staff
progress. The client chooses from the available options
role is one of support and option appraisal - enabling
and achievable, measurable tasks are agreed.
client choice that will lead to empowering, efficient and cost effective outcomes. The more clients design and
Core Support and Keywork: Keywork focuses on helping
own their support plans, the more they will drive and own
people through their support plan. Progress against set
the outcomes.
tasks is reviewed and new tasks are agreed. A weekly hour-long keywork session is most common – although
WHAT WE DID
this can be adapted to suit each client’s needs. Some
There are four key elements in our approach to
clients need 15 minutes almost daily – while in other cases
personalisation.
longer, less frequent keywork is seen as appropriate.
Person Centred Assessment and Support Planning
Skilled and Flexible Support: High skill base and
(PCASP): Clients come to us at a point of crisis in their
flexibility is an essential part of personalised work with
life. Our assessment process recognises they may need
homeless clients. For us, this included creating two new
a short period (typically up to 48 hours) to consider their
roles – Assessment Broker and Flexible Support Worker.
priorities once they have the security of acceptance and
These roles had no set hours, but instead offered flexible
a chance to recuperate. For this reason, we separate
support where genuine reasons, as identified in a clients’
the basic Admission Assessment – covering eligibility,
support plan, emerged.
immediate needs and risk assessment – from the more thorough PCASP.
Staff providing this support have to reach an assessed standard of competence before being authorised to
30
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
FEATURES
ONE CLIENT’S JOURNEY Catherine was a successful business manager, a mother and a wife. She suffered post natal depression after which her alcohol use spiraled out of control. Her relationship broke down, her drinking reached a critical level and her home was repossessed. At Two Saints, Catherine set up her own tailored person centred plan based on her strengths, priorities and needs. She was able to access the appropriate support and resources to help her move forward. By using motivational interviewing, the team enabled Catherine to identify with herself that her drinking was the main barrier to her goals – and to build determination. Catherine needed a lot of support at first to avoid eviction due to chaotic lifestyle choices, but now she’s able to look back on that time. She says: ‘with a lot of determination and will on my part I am now sober and am heavily involved with many aspects of hostel life, and am due be moved out into my own rented property very shortly.’ Catherine continues to volunteer within the service. She is the chair of our Joint Asset Management group and recently won the West Berkshire Volunteer of the year award.
carry out PCASP assessments. The first interactions with a
the Outcomes Star demonstrated that clients themselves
client are crucial to building trust and rapport, so getting
felt happier and more in control.
your best staff in front of a client at an early stage is essential.
The pilot was also cost effective. Beyond the allocation of Free Resource the costs were minimal - with staff hours not
Free Resource: We allocated a specific fund, called Free
increased but refocussed.
Resource, available over the six months of the pilot. WHERE NEXT? This was used to support clients with needs identified in
A major success from this approach was the greatly
the support plan, where no other source of funding was
increased engagement, particularly from some of our
available. Examples include paying for college course
hardest to reach clients. Clients who never previously felt
equipment, visits to family members, clothing, driving
able to fully engage are now taking an active role and
lessons to support return to work, and art therapy sessions.
progressing their own support plans.
Interestingly, of the original £20,000, less than £3,000
The ultimate benefit of the pilot was not that clients were
was taken up. Support workers commented that the
achieving different outcomes than before, but that many
possibility of Free Resource enabled clients to start exploring in depth what was important to and for them. In turn, this helped them reach an understanding about the resources they already possess to help them achieve what they need.
more outcomes were achieved overall – including hard Supporting People outcomes – and by a greater number and wider range of clients. We are now rolling out the approach gradually across all our suitable services.
WHAT DID WE LEARN? Personalisation works! The clients tell us so, staff tell us so, and so do the figures. A review of life areas covered by
Jon Bramley is Projects Officer at Two Saints www.twosaints.org.uk WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
31
COMMENT
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
RECIPE FOR A
PERFECT NSNO Since early 2011, our Innovation and Good Practice team has given a lot of thought to what it takes to implement No Second Night Out (NSNO) locally and what a ‘perfect’ NSNO approach could look like. Lisa Reed explains. A lot has happened since we first started asking what No
together to plan and to learn, we’ve supported agencies
Second Night Out should mean in London. We consulted
with funding through the Homeless Transition Fund and
with a wide range of frontline outreach workers, staff
trained individuals and teams.
in accommodation and day centre projects, local authorities and others in order to support the set-up of the
There have been many diverse solutions, but there’s a
first NSNO hub.
range of common principles that work.
We heard how important it is to have lots of creative
Firstly, the areas that have been most successful have
solutions to meet the needs of a diverse population
taken steps to really define the issues they are seeking
of new rough sleepers – and that those solutions must
to address by analysing existing data or carrying out
include access to mental health assessment, and advice
an audit. For example Harrogate Homeless Project has
around immigration and international reconnection.
carried out an audit with all frontline services to monitor who is rough sleeping in order to determine what the
More than a year after launch of No Second Night Out
service needs to look like.
in London – and subsequent commitments to adopt the NSNO standard from around the country – we are seeing
It takes creativity to develop person-centred solutions
a wide variety of practical ways that the approach can
and responses quickly. Successful projects are well aware
be implemented.
of the limitations in services and funding in a time of cuts and shortages – so they become experts at making the
INGREDIENTS
best use of existing resources and finding new ones.
The government strategy: Vision for ending rough sleeping: No Second Night Out nationwide recognises
It is important that projects have the capacity to
that there should be different approaches, but with
advocate for people and build the right offer. The London
a few clear common requirements. These include
pilot has dynamic Reconnection and Assessment Workers
mechanisms for identifying new rough sleepers;
who can spend time negotiating with Housing Options
having an immediate response; mobilising the public;
Services, landlords or other support agencies to really
having a safe place where needs can be assessed;
ensure that an individual’s needs are met.
emergency accommodation; and agencies working on reconnection processes to help people connect with the
Local areas find solutions when they are working
area where they will most likely be able to move away
together to have a shared approach, with excellent
from rough sleeping.
communication and focus on the people who need support. For example, there are a number of areas that
COOKING INSTRUCTIONS
have ‘Task and Targetting’ Groups that meet regularly to
Over the last year Homeless Link has been supporting
case manage the most vulnerable people in the area.
and connecting up areas that are adopting the No Second Night Out standard. We’ve brought people
32
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
Political buy-in is crucial to the success of No Second
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
COMMENT
Night Out. The Liverpool City Region was the first area
as night shelters, soup kitchens and faith groups) play
outside London to officially sign up to the No Second
an integral role. In some English regions day centres
Night Out standard. They have adapted the approach to
are hosting an assessment hub or taking the lead in
meet their local needs, while maintaining the core belief
coordinating and implementing a No Second Night Out
that no one should spend more than a single night on the
project.
streets. Thanks to buy in from all the local councillors, the Liverpool Region now has a local helpline for the public
DO NOT LEAVE TO STAND
to call when they see a rough sleeper, and offers a single
But the key characteristic of the perfect NSNO approach
point of access to housing and health services.
is that it doesn’t believe it is perfect at all. It is prepared to gather information and feedback and to constantly
A partnership approach is vital to the success of No
change in response to this – a cycle of continuous
Second Night Out projects. As well as involving people
learning and improvement.
working in non-homelessness roles (police, street cleaners
sector is essential. Day centres (and other services such
Lisa Reed is Homeless Link’s Head of Innovation and Good Practice. homeless.org.uk/ea-nsno
THE ESSENTIAL SIDE DISH
service offer by providing time and space for the person
Day centres can be a key partner in delivering the
to reflect and reconsider, being frank about the options
‘perfect’ NSNO approach – Good Practice Offer
and resources available. This reduces the risk of people
Tasmin Maitland explains how this can work.
sleeping rough in the unrealistic hope of being given a
etc) and the general public to alert NSNO projects about new rough sleepers, partnership within the homelessness
different or better option, which is often exacerbated by Day centres support early intervention by identifying
misinformation from others on the streets.
who is a new rough sleeper and giving them information about the No Second Night Out service. This might mean
Regular communication between No Second Night Out
restricting access to some or all of the service so that
projects and other homelessness services ensures that
new arrivals are directed to the most appropriate rapid
new rough sleepers aren’t falling through the gaps. In
response and support. This also helps day centres to
some cases, an interim solution is needed to achieve No
avoid duplication and to target their resources at those
Second Night Out (for example, waiting for a passport
who cannot get support from No Second Night Out.
prior to reconnection) and partnership with a night shelter or spare room scheme is the best short term option. For
Day centres will need to provide clear, realistic
rough sleepers with no recourse to public funds whose
communication about which housing and support
situation is unlikely to change and for whom reconnection
options are available to rough sleepers, as well as about
is not possible, joint working with faith groups might be the
the risks of sleeping rough. At times, rough sleepers
best way to find a specialist housing solution.
engage with a No Second Night Out project but refuse the support offered. Day centres can support the single
homeless.org.uk/ea-nsno-daycentres WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
33
FEATURES
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
THAT’S THE WAY THE MONEY GOES... One year on from the launch of the £20m Homelessness Transition Fund, and its ambition to end rough sleeping in England, Fund Director Samantha Rennie steps back to see how we’re doing. Since the Homelessness Transition Fund was launched last
available for grants. Clearly there was a need – and
July, £8m has been distributed through 41 grants across
predictably, there were some difficult decisions to be
England, with another round of funding decisions to be
made. Many of the applications were from organisations
announced before the Olympics. It seems to good time
desperate to keep services open, most couldn’t meet
to review how we are doing. How are we getting the
the need for existing services – and many had cut staffing
money to where it’s needed? What have we learnt so far?
back to the bone.
BEGINNINGS
By assessing each bid over a very intensive few weeks,
The Fund was conceived in a climate of cuts to frontline
valuable insights were gained about the challenges
services and increasing pressures on the people
facing frontline agencies and the support needs of the
most who need them. It was launched as part of the
sector. Some of these lessons have helped Homeless
Government’s rough sleeping strategy ‘Vision to end
Link’s Good Practice team shape the guidance and
rough sleeping: No Second Night Out Nationwide’ to help
training it provides across the sector.
ensure that progress towards ending homelessness is not lost. It aimed to help protect critical services, and to help
Like the Lottery scheme, the Fund is open to any
organisations which had become dependent on public
voluntary organisation which meets the basic eligibility
funds to find new approaches to delivering services.
criteria. Unlike the Lottery scheme, we decided against applying a financial formula which directly assessed
The Fund wasn’t the first ‘transition fund’ – there have
applications against the amount of Local Authority cuts.
been other government funds aimed at helping voluntary
We focussed first on the objectives of the Fund – asking
organisations cope with cuts and move to other funding
applicants to explain the transition they wanted to make
or commissioning models. Most notable was the £100
and innovations to end rough sleeping they wanted to
million scheme announced by Chancellor George
implement. Knowing that our sector is best placed to
Osborne and launched by the Big Lottery in 2010. While
understand the individual pathways and needs of clients,
many organisations benefitted, surprisingly few from the
we asked applicants to tell us about the picture of rough
homelessness sector applied, or received funds from the
sleeping in their area. We asked them to make the case
Lottery scheme. We looked to see what we could learn
for need in their own words.
from the Lottery, as well as other grant-makers tackling homelessness.
Crucially, distributing the Fund through Homeless Link allowed grants to be made closer to the people who
ROUND 1
benefit. Homeless Link’s network of Regional Managers
When the Fund opened for business last summer, we
are able to reach out to local services and communities,
were inundated with requests for funding – almost 200
to support them in making applications to the Fund, and
applications asking for £35 million, with only £8 million
to help in delivering funded projects. Regional Managers
34
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
FEATURES
can provide advice on good practice, signpost data
benefitting. We will continue to look at what we’re
and other evidence of need for bidders, and broker links
funding and where, to ensure a balance of projects
between potential competitors to build partnerships.
across the country.
Regional Managers can act as a critical friend and sounding board, with applicants secure in the knowledge
SMALL GRANTS, BIG AMBITION
that they have no role in assessing or deciding on bids.
The applications received so far reinforce the recent
As the Fund rolls out, we want more applicants to know
SNAP survey results. It’s evident that many frontline
about and take up this support.
services are firefighting as they struggle with local authority cuts, often stripping them of professional
LEARNING FROM THE FIRST ROUND
staff. One reason the Fund has introduced a new Small
We asked for feedback from Round 1 and listened to
Grants programme is that we recognise staff under
what people told us. A key lesson was the need to make
pressure need resources to take stock, scan the horizon
it clearer what difference the Fund – and therefore the
and adjust to what may be coming next. Sometimes
projects supported – intended to make. We’ve now
a smaller amount of money can go further in the long
described the outcomes which projects need to address,
term – paying for things not covered by service contracts
based on Homeless Link’s vision of what an end to rough
such as back-filling key roles, gathering evidence for
sleeping looks like and the four NSNO principles. Another
commissioners and funders, looking at different business
lesson from Round 1 was to make the process of applying
models, or merging backroom services with partner
much clearer to applicants. We’ve now produced much
agencies
clearer criteria and guidance, and introduced an online application system. This helps applicants know what’s
As the Panel prepares to consider applications for Round
expected – and it helps us to identify relevant evidence
2 of the Main Grants Programme, we’re still looking
and assess each bid fairly.
ahead, trying to learn from what we’re funding, and what the sector is telling us. The future seems gloomy
An early decision in the Fund’s life was to set up an
– with increasing pressures on people, commissioners
independent Grants Panel. The Panel is made up
and services. But we know the sector, and the people
of representatives from DCLG, other government
who work in it, are resilient, agile, entrepreneurial and
departments (DWP, Health) and the GLA, as well as
creative. We know the sector has survived and thrived
representatives from the sector and from other funders.
beyond cuts and crises in the past. The Fund presents a
The Panel’s commitment, diligence and professionalism in
new, albeit narrow, window of opportunity to strengthen
considering each application is impressive, as is the level
those attributes, and put in place the changes needed to
of debate and scrutiny from wide ranging perspectives.
achieve our shared ambition.
Their expertise was recently supplemented by two people with direct experience of homelessness and of using frontline services, which will bring an extra dimension to the Panel’s deliberations. The grants made last December were broadly spread throughout the country, with each region in England
Samantha Rennie is Director of the Homelessness Transition Fund homeless.org.uk/fund We are undertaking a mid-term review of the Homelessness Transition Fund in July. Please visit the website for details and to add your comments. WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
35
FEATURES
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
THE SHORTLIST Looking after your wellbeing isn’t always easy, especially if you’re living in temporary accommodation. This year’s Michael Whippman Award has been looking for the best examples of projects that use physical activity to improve participants’ wellbeing. Here’s the shortlisted four, in pictures...
THE HOMELESS GAMES
GONE FISHING
A player in the Homeless World Cup wanted to offer
Led by knowledgeable residents and ex-residents
a similar opportunity to others that reached beyond
of Threshold, Gone Fishing was set up to encourage
football. The result was The Homeless Games. They are
residents to socialise. Having engaged in these social
an annual Olympics-style event run over two days in
activities, participants often go on to engage with other
Merseyside since 2010. They engaged 200 participants in
services and opportunities. With participants ranging in
2010 and 400 in 2011, including 25 rough sleepers.
age from 5 months to 70 years old, fishing has proved to be an inclusive and successful activity.
36
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
FEATURES
CELEBRATING CLIENT INVOLVEMENT The Michael Whippman Award focuses on the contributions of homeless people themselves. The Award was set up to challenge stereotypes about who is and can become homeless, whilst also showing homeless people that anything is possible. In previous years, it has been themed around contributions to local community, social enterprise and raising awareness through social media.
CLIMB ABOARD PROJECT
INSPIRE
After one-off sailing trips organised by Porchlight, a group
Inspire began three years ago as a way of providing
of clients requested more water. The answer was the
access to meaningful activities – from knitting to walking,
Climb Aboard Project, which offers a range of activities
and from football to gardening . Inspire enables clients
and training opportunities – including sailing, kayaking,
to share their talents and passions with others – with 100%
canoeing, swimming and Royal Yachting Association
of activities run having been identified and requested
qualifications. The project also integrates team building
by participants. 75% are led or coordinated by client
and healthy lifestyle classes and community links.
volunteers.
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
37
FEATURES
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
EVERYTHING
TO PLAY FOR
It’s an exciting year for sport in England. While headlines in 2012 are dominated by the coming London Olympic Games, Lindsey Horsfield writes about another exciting development in the world of sport – and it’s happening right here in the homelessness sector. The Homeless Football Association (FA) is a new charity
Community members
set up in late 2011 through the hard work and vision of
will also have the
a committed group of support workers from across the
chance to play in the
country. What started as a network of grassroots projects
HFA Cup, a national
that wanted to share good practice, ideas and resources
4-a-side tournament delivered by the Homeless FA and
with each another has grown into a national organisation
co-hosted with a professional football club. We are
that has partnered with top premier league football
aiming towards an inaugural Homeless FA Cup in early
clubs.
2013 as we keep building the profile and number of opportunities for players across England.
WHY FOOTBALL? It’s our country’s national sport – and because of that it
To really benefit from the knowledge and experience
has the potential to engage a wide range of participants.
that exists in the sector, Community membership is open
It’s a leveller. It’s a way of stepping away from day to
to a wide range of organisations, from
day issues and socialising with others. For the Homeless
Premier League football clubs to small
FA, football can give every person experiencing
day centres, and national housing
homelessness in England the opportunity to develop their
associations to individual hostels. The
skills and abilities, to gain self-respect and confidence, to
one thing we all share in common is that
improve their health, and ultimately to transform their life.
we are all using football as a means of improving the lives of homeless people.
By promoting fair play and inclusiveness
MORE THAN A GAME
in the context of
How can kicking a ball about improve lives? Does it
competitive football, our primary focus is on personal and
always work? What life skills tie in best with a football
social development.
training session? With the help of our Community members and our own research we will be concentrating
An integral part of our work is management of the
on the core questions of ‘what works, and why’? The
Homeless FA Community, formerly known as the Homeless
evidence base that we build will benefit all homeless
Football Network. Members of the Community can
football projects as they can use this to improve their own
communicate with other projects, share knowledge and
delivery and get buy-in to what they are doing. We’ll be
attend regional Homeless FA meetings. They can also
learning from our own programme, delivering six regional
access centralised resources such
Training Centres in the run up to the Homeless World Cup.
as a “Football for Change” model, start-up packs for new homeless
As well as the work the Homeless FA will be doing at the
football projects, good practice
local level to support local projects we want to create
tools, funding resources, as well
a pathway for players to aspire to. The Homeless FA is
as reduced rates on pitch and kit
the new national partner of the Homeless World Cup
provision.
in England – and 2012 will be the first year that England
38
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
FEATURES
enters both a men’s team and a women’s team to the
football projects, and two England internationals! Rachel
tournament. They will be identified through six pilot
Brown and Fara Williams who play for Everton Ladies and
Training Centres – three for men, three for women –
the England Women’s teams will run the Everton women’s
delivered in partnership with Arsenal in the Community,
Training Centre and coach the women’s Homeless
Everton in the Community, Manchester United Foundation
World Cup side. We’re thrilled to have such inspirational
and Albion in the Community.
individuals involved. Players
LOOKING FORWARD
attending the
From 2013 we intend to develop and increase the support
Training Centres
we can offer to the Homeless FA Community. We can
will get a feel
do this partly by registering more organisations that are
for what it is like to be a professional footballer, receiving
willing to share their expertise and experience with their
top quality coaching from the Premier League club’s
colleagues across England. There will be the HFA Cup to
community coaches, tours of the stadium and an FA
look forward to at the beginning of the year, soon after
Junior Leaders Award. The Training Centres will be a great
which the Training Centres will commence.
experience and opportunity for all players, regardless of football ability. The emphasis is on personal development
Next year we plan to increase from our original six pilot
and supporting players to increase their self-confidence
areas to include more of the country. We will continue to
and self-esteem, improve stress management, and teach
encourage the homelessness sector to utilise the power
leadership and other life skills.
of football, and empower the sporting world to recognise football’s potential to support the most vulnerable
The skills that our volunteers have who are leading the
members of society.
Training Centres and taking the teams to the Homeless World Cup are vital. We know how important staff are to
If your organisation currently uses football as a way
the success of any project and we are excited to have a
of engaging and supporting people experiencing
great mix of experience.
homelessness email us at community@homelessfa.org.
There are people with experience of homelessness
Lindsey Horsfield is Chair of Homeless FA www.homelessfa.org
themselves, support staff who run successful homeless
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
39
FEATURES
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
TAKEASTEP
THE HOMELESS HACK Across the country, people are joining our campaign to end homelessness and rough sleeping. In June, our Data & Policy Analyst Shaun Forde took part in one of the more tech-savvy steps we’ve heard about to date. As a sector, we rely increasingly on gadgetry and IT. It
THE BRIEF
helps us to track the effectiveness of the work we do,
There were four broad challenges that participants were
record our work with clients, and report back to funding
asked to work on. (1) Is there an internet based or mobile
commissioners – and with computers and mobile devices
technology solution to ending rough sleeping? (2) How
so accessible now, internet and mobile technology has
can we use SMS and other widely available technology
become an essential tool for homeless people too.
to connect homeless people to services they need? (3) How can we connect homeless clients who have no
It’s not often that a group of developers, graphic
access to smartphones or other mobile technology with
designers and all round IT gurus get together and actually
web based services that can help them? And (4) Can
volunteer their time and knowledge to help prevent
we make use of free Wi-Fi and mobile internet to help
homelessness. But that’s exactly what happened one
homelessness practitioners assist clients?
Saturday in June, when Go On Uk, in partnership with
“I’m helping to end rough sleeping by creating innovative technology for homelessness services.”
Westminster City Council, SHP, Homeless Link and others, hosted their Homeless Hack Day, bringing together over 50 homelessness and IT professionals, as well as homeless clients themselves. The challenge was to develop IT based solutions to homelessness issues – all within 8 hours! The short timescale is the reason it’s call a hack day (or Hackathon) – and it’s probably the reason it works. The time limit creates a real sense of intrepid energy and urgency, which seems all the more fitting because of the
After 8 hours of intense coding, designing and writing -
cause. After initial presentations and a Q&A session with
not to mention copious amounts of pizza and coffee - the
the homelessness pros, the IT crowd got straight on with
groups were ready to present their work. The six resulting
their mission, breaking into groups based on their areas of
projects were astounding. They included ‘Everyone In’,
expertise and the briefs handed out to them.
a mobile app for members of the public to help people sleeping rough, and ‘Life Map’, a visual tool for staff and clients to track progress. The winning project opened up the Homeless UK database to location searches. Of course, after 8 hours, what we had were prototypes, not finished products. But the concentrated vision, energy and expertise that went into them means they all have immense potential. I think there’s a very real chance that some of them will become real, usable solutions soon. For more, visit: homelesshack.com WHAT’S YOUR STEP? homeless.org.uk/take-a-step
40
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
FEATURES
MANAGING PEOPLE
Dear Helen,
Ou r service h as been u nder so m uch pre ssu re that it feels like we could n’ t be fu rt her fr om ending homele ssne ss. How ca n we revive the passion a nd creativity we ne ed to really ma ke a differe nce?
Over the last few years the operating environment in our sector has become more and more challenging. Public sector procurement practices have driven down service contract prices and more recently the government’s austerity measures have resulted in the decommissioning and reconfiguring of services.
see? How can you reduce these? This type of approach can really help challenge your mind set and is
The need to innovate and deliver differently across the
a useful approach to try at team meetings.
homelessness sector is becoming more important given the current resource constraints. In a recent CIPD survey
Try these top tips to encourage creative thinking:
two fifths of organisations reported that creativity and innovation are critical to their organisation.
•
Take part in brainstorming sessions at team meetings - use mind mapping to tap into your creativity.
It is becoming increasingly common within the non-profit sector to have processes in place which encourage staff
•
Try Edward de Bono’s ‘Six Thinking Hats’ technique for
to innovate, but how easy is this to achieve, especially for
structuring team discussions for problem-solving and
the smaller organisations that don’t have a lot of money
generating ideas. It’s a great way of ensuring that
to throw at these sorts of initiatives?
everyone contributes creatively, and that the whole output is greater than the sum of individual inputs.
You’ve heard the common adage ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ but in an ever changing sector, in which we are
•
Get involved in an action learning set.
•
Take risks and if things don’t go as well as you had
frequently being challenged by low cost competitors, we must adapt or we will get left behind.
hoped, consider it a learning opportunity! So what does creativity and innovation mean to you? It’s not just about creating or inventing. It’s also about
•
Get out and about – networking provides a great
developing new ways of working, and improving services
opportunity for gaining insight into new ways of
for our clients. Creativity and innovation is the ability to
working.
source and develop new ideas, to solve problems and bring about tangible improvements to services and resources.
•
Be aware of your ‘killer phrases’ such as ‘”there isn’t time”, “it’s been done before” and “it won’t work”. They’re a sure way to stifle creativity.
Try thinking about things from different perspectives and more importantly, looking at things through other people’s eyes. For example: your customers, clients, competitors and funders. What barriers might they
Helen Giles is HR Director of Broadway and Managing Director of Broadway’s Real People HR consultancy www.broadwaysrealpeople.com WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
41
FEATURES
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
MISSING PEOPLE Jo Youle, Director of Services at Missing People, tells
service - or supporting someone to re-establish contact
us about how their new helpline service can help
with their family or carers.
homeless adults to reconnect. A reconnection with family may, in some cases, offer an DANNY’S STORY
early way of helping people who are sleeping rough off
Danny went missing in 2005 at the age of 21, from his
the streets. Before contacting agencies in the person’s
family home. There had been no
local area, a conversation
new information about Danny for
might be had with them about
7 years, leaving the family very
whether they have family that
worried about his wellbeing.
they might be able to return to or stay with. If they want support
However, Danny made contact
in reconnecting with family, we
by calling Missing People’s 116
offer free 24 hour confidential
000 helpline. He said he was
support and advice by phone,
unsure of how to get back in
e-mail and text. This might involve
touch with his family or what to
exchanging messages or being
say after so long. He said that
helped to make contact with
every day since he left he had
family via a three-way call by our
wanted to find a way to say sorry,
helpline team. Three-way calls are
but just hadn’t been able to find
also often used to support callers
the words.
to connect with key workers and mental health teams.
We worked with Danny to prepare what he wanted to say
WORKING TOGETHER
to explain himself and to help find
Our team have recently received
the courage to send a message
training from Homeless Link to
home. Danny asked us to contact
increase our skills in handling calls
his parents the same day. They
from rough sleepers. We have a
were incredibly overwhelmed but
comprehensive database that
very grateful to hear such good news after so many long
we use to refer callers to, including homeless services
years.
across the country, who we regularly signpost callers to. When appropriate, we also support callers to contact
The message they ask us to pass back to Danny read
emergency housing services in their area.
‘We think about you every day, you have never stopped being our son. We love you very much’
We want as many people as possible to know that we can be a lifeline for them. By promoting our services and
This message was enough for Danny; he found the
referring people you work with to us, you can help give
confidence to make contact with his family again for
them an extra option to turn to when things get tough.
the first time in 7 years. A wonderful result and one many families can only dream of.
If you would like to know more or would like to be sent Missing People’s 116 000 promotional material, including
RECONNECTING VULNERABLE PEOPLE
leaflets and posters, then please contact Jonathan Hirst:
As Director of Services at Missing People, I hear stories
jonathan.hirst@missingpeople.org.uk
like Danny’s on a daily basis. Our work often involves connecting a person who is at risk to a local homeless
42
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
www.missingpeople.org.uk
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
WHAT’S ON?
INSPIRED
UPCOMING TRAINING AND EVENTS FOR THE HOMELESSNESS SECTOR:
JULY 26
FREE WEBINAR | EFFECTIVE ACTION Faith group involvement in tackling rough sleeping - looking at good practice approaches to rough sleeping, No Second Night Out and more. 11:30AM-12:30PM http://bit.ly/connect-webinar-faithgroups
SEPTEMBER 25
PASSION, SKILLS & CREATIVITY: PATHWAYS TO WELLBEING There are practical steps you can take to help improve the wellbeing of the people you support, through sports, arts and outdoor activities. Tuesday 25 September 2012 | Birmingham http://homeless.org.uk/event-wellbeing
STAY IN THE LOOP For up to date information on events and training, visit...
www.homeless.org.uk/conference-diary www.homeless.org.uk/training ...and subscribe to our regular member bulletins...
www.homeless.org.uk/keep-informed
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK
43
COMMENT
CONNECT JULY 2012 | ISSUE 46
RESOURCES We’ve pulled together a list of resources and research related to the features in CONNECT 46. If you have any information you would like to share with our member organisations, please write to editor@homelesslink.org.uk.
HOMELESS LINK INFORMATION
WOMEN & HOMELESSNESS
Ending homelessness - join the debate
Rebuilding Shattered Lives
Help us to make sure our work is relevant to you
www.rebuildingshatteredlives.org
and the people you support. www.endhomelessness.org.uk
Domestic violence and homelessness www.homeless.org.uk/domestic-violence
Take a Step - to help end rough sleeping Join our campaign - on our website or on
Women’s Aid
Facebook.
www.womensaid.org.uk
homeless.org.uk/take-a-step facebook.com/homelesslink
Broken Rainbow www.broken-rainbow.org
Effective Action Good practice guidance for local authorities and services homeless.org.uk/effective-action
CONTRIBUTOR LINKS
Homelessness Transition Fund Open to applications for Small Grants
Choir With No Name - www.choirwithnoname.org
homeless.org.uk/fund Homeless FA - www.homelessfa.org Our policy work Where to start looking for information on our policy
Homeless Hack Day - homelesshack.com
campaigning and lobbying. www.homeless.org.uk/policy-roundup
Missing People - www.missingpeople.org.uk
In the regions
Real People - www.broadwaysrealpeople.com
Meet your Homeless Link regional managers. homeless.org.uk/contact-regional-manager
Streetwise Opera - www.streetwiseopera.org
And your NAC representatives.
Two Saints - www.twosaints.org.uk
homeless.org.uk/contact-nac
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK 44
WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK