VONNE

Policy Topic: Meeting the Housing Related Support Needs for Homeless People in the North East

This project, being undertaken by the Cyrenians and Northumbria University, aims to bring together representatives from local authorities and voluntary and community sector organisations, from across the North East, to engage in critical discussions and the sharing of best practice regarding how the voluntary and community sector can most effectively meet (and support local authorities to meet) the housing-related support needs of homeless client groups in an era of new challenges and opportunities.

The key outcome of the project will be the development of a policy paper, which will be disseminated to MPs, local authority leaders and chief executives across the North East, and selected central Government representatives. The paper will outline the North East voluntary and community sector’s response to meeting the housing-related support needs of homeless client groups in light of the challenges and opportunities outlined earlier. The policy paper will:

• Highlight the value of housing-related support services for homeless client groups and the valuable role being played by local authorities and voluntary and community sector organisations in meeting their needs.
• Outline the North East voluntary and community sector’s response to emerging policy and funding cuts which may impact upon services for homeless client groups.
• Outline the North East voluntary and community sector’s recommendations regarding what the key strategic and funding priorities should be in relation to housing-related support services for homeless client groups in the coming months. Highlight innovative and best practice approaches to service delivery and partnership working in operation across the region.
• It is hoped, however, that the project will spark critical discussions and the development of more innovative practices in terms of service provision and partnership working which will continue beyond the lifespan of the project.

An intiial briefing note can be downloaded from the right hand side of this page; it is intended to be able to provide the VCS details of the current policy position. 

Have your say

As part of the project, two workshops will be held to discuss how the North East is meeting the needs of homeless people in light of public sector funding cuts.

Thursday 31st May, 12 - 4pm at Northumbria University and Thursday 14th June, 12 - 4pm at Teesside University

Confirmed speakers and contributors include:

• Mike Worthington OBE, Patron of The Cyrenians
• Tracy Hendren and Linda McGown, CLG Specialist Advisors on Homelessness
• Joe Kent, Alice Evans and Becky Elton, Homeless Link
• Jamie Harding, Sarah Soppitt and Adele Irving, Northumbria University  

The workshops will provide an opportunity to hear the results of Homeless Link’s Survey of Needs and Provision (SNAP) 2012 and the latest research findings from Northumbria University regarding the economic and social value of housing-related support services for homeless people. Innovative practice from local authorities and VCS organisations beyond the North East will also be shared. Finally, the events will provide opportunities for discussion with representatives from CLG.

The key policy messages emerging from the events will inform a policy paper that will be disseminated to MPs, local authority leaders and chief executives across the North East, and selected central Government representatives.

To book a place on the event email adele2.irving@northumbria.ac.uk

If you have any questions about the research, please contact Adele Irving (Research Associate, Northumbria University) at adele2.irving@northumbria.ac.uk or Keith Nicholson (Group Assistant Director, the Cyrenians) at k.nicholson@tcuk.org.