3 minute read
The last word
By Eleanor Edgar, Scheme Manager – Temporary Accommodation, Stockport Homes
The changing frontline role in temporary accommodation
If we think of challenges, there are often negative connotations; and when asked to write an article discussing the challenges currently facing temporary accommodation, it doesn’t feel right to focus only on those negatives. I work alongside some of the most talented, solution-focused, resilient and caring temporary accommodation staff and customers, and no matter what they face, each day sees the unwavering levels of care, determination and a good slice of humour to deliver the best services for customers.
We do face challenges, but we also have a lot of joy; we celebrate that customer who may be battling a cycle of addiction but has used Class C drugs instead of Class A drugs today; or that customer who sat down with us for more than five minutes when we know the voices in their head are telling them to run out of the door; or the customer who attended an activity session for the first time.
We know our customers as mothers, singers, artists and individuals that have shown unbelievable survival skills to be sitting in front of us; who have stayed with drug dealers and engaged in sex work to survive and have a roof over their head. We always talk with our customers about what they are good at; we celebrate birthdays; give prizes for room of the week; and talk about their favourite football team or TV show.
In comparison with four or five years ago the temporary accommodation landscape looks very different, and we often ask ourselves the question: is temporary accommodation still temporary? We’re supporting customers for much longer, and they’re struggling more than we’ve ever known before. We have customers who will struggle to ever be able to live independently and many returning to us who are caught within a cycle of homelessness and custodial sentences. It sometimes feels like housing and, in particular, emergency housing is another emergency service, and days are spent trying to keep that individual alive and striving to get essential support from health services, mental health teams and social services, who are running on very stretched reserves.
Our future needs to look different, and we need to lead the way. Private landlords need to house people experiencing homelessness, more social housing is needed, and we need it to look and feel different; we need to try house shares for those we know will struggle to live alone and need supported accommodation for those who need extra care. We need to work hard to make temporary accommodation as temporary as possible, as we know the damaging long-term impacts for individuals and families. We will always be here as a safety net to those where every other door has closed and ready to catch people as they fall – but our responsibility needs to be to support them into long-term, stable places they can call home.
