HOMELESS ACCOMMODATION
Our accommodation in Rushden supports rough sleepers with accommodation and move on support.
What We Do
Rushden Homeless Accommodation provide safe accommodation and support for those who are rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping, in North Northamptonshire.
We offer medium term accommodation (18-24 months) and are staffed 24/7 365 days a year. Staff and volunteers work with residents to address barriers to housing and move them into permanent accommodation. Whilst living with us, we expect clients to engage with this support, as well as the house code of conduct which includes taking responsibility for their environment, servicing their debts and contributing a £10 a week service charge. Once individuals have a bed with us, that bed is theirs until they move on or leave. They do not have to turn up each night not knowing whether they have a bed and a roof, but have a sense of continuity and security which we hope helps them address the issues that initially lead to homelessness.
Whilst With Us
Different individuals require different levels of support. Below are some of the ways our staff and volunteers provide assistance:
Identifying the barriers that prevent individuals from maintaining stable housing
Guiding them through homelessness applications and housing pathways with local council teams
Developing life skills to support independent living, such as cooking and budgeting
Supporting access to addiction recovery services
Helping individuals access training and employment opportunities
Addressing both mental and physical health needs
Finding permanent, sustainable, and affordable accommodation
After Move On
We work with the local authority and other accommodation providers such as supported accommodation orprivate landlords to find places for individuals to move on.
Once they leave us, we offer to continue our support to ensure that they maintain the accommodation. This might jsut be helping to set up direct debits, or could be attending appointments with them and arranging food parcels.
Access To Our Service
Referrals
We take self-referrals which can be done by ringing the project during office hours or agencies can download our referral form below. Instructions for referrals are on the form.
Unfortunately due to the risk assessments and the way that the project is funded, we do not take people straight from the street. We will however work closely with the outreach and housing teams within the council and do offer some emergency support to those who are rough sleeping i.e. providing sleeping bags and hot drinks.
Eligibility
Our eligibility criteria assesses whether the client is in need of the support that we offer in addition to whether we are the best fit for the client and can meet their day to day needs.
The only other eligibility criteria we apply as standard is:
- Whether the individual has a connection to North Northants. Normally, this is whether they have lived locally for two out of the last three years, whether they work in NN and have done for over 6 months, or whether they have close family (i.e. parents, sibiling or children) who have lived here for 5 years continuously. More information can be found on the NN Council’s keyways allocation policy.
- If the individual has an unspent conviction for arson
- If the individual has an unspent conviction for a sexual offence
- If the individual is deemed to be at risk in the local area which could put others, including residents and staff, at risk.
Assessments
All potential residents will have an assessment, either face to face or over the phone, where we will ask questions about their situation, their previous housing and any support needs they have.
We do ask that individuals are as honest as possible; we do not form judgements around situations, however, understanding the challenges someone is facing will help us better support them. For example, this could be that we put them in a different bedroom if they have anxiety, or could be that we ensure there are facilities for clean needles for drug users.
We will make a risk assessment based on the individual and the other residents in the house to ensure that their stay with us is as positive as possible.
Cost
Whilst residing with us, we are in receipt of their housing benefit which covers roughly 70% of our costs.
We also ask that residents pay a nominal service charge each week to help cover other costs, and to build positive habits around paying bills and budgeting.
We can apply a certainly level of discretion around when this is paid, for example if a resident has no money due to a benefit delay, we will take this into consideration, but may ask for evidence.
FAQ’s
Is there a minimum or maximum length of stay?
We are not prescriptive about a minimum or maximum stay at the project. Our license agreements permit a stay of up to 2 years, but depending on the goals and housing options available to the resident, this may be shorter.
I am an agency - can I refer a client to you?
Yes we accept referrals from agencies and individuals directly.
We request that you always ask permission from the individual before referring, and explain what we do so that they are aware.
We also ask that you include as much information as possible on your referral to avoid delays or misunderstandings.
Our referral form can be found above.
Is it men only?
We are open to all genders as we have individual rooms rather than shared.
Our kitchen and lounge facilities are shared with others on each floor, however each room has its own en- suite bathroom and toilet facility.
We will not refuse accommodation due to how someone identifies or any other characteristic.
Unfortunately our accommodation is not suitable for those who are disabled who use a wheelchair or who struggle with stairs. For someone with a disability you may qualify for priority need with the council so we would recommend contacting them.
Is there a charge for residents?
We ask residents to contribute a nominal service charge each week whilst they are with us. This is to cover costs and to get into the habit of paying rent/bills. Our aim is to enable people to gain and maintain permanent accommodation and paying bills is a key part of this.
This is currently £10 a week.
We would never refuse entry to someone who could not pay, nor would it be detrimental to someone’s stay if they were unable to pay – we would work with them to establish why and resolve this.
Do you operate a waiting list?
Yes we operate a waiting list and allocate rooms on a first come first served basis. We do not make judgements as to who is in higher need than someone else.
Once a referral or initial contact is made, you may be asked some basic questions and you will be placed on the waiting list. When it is anticipated that we may be able to offer you a room within the coming weeks, we will then invite you in for a face to face assessment.
How long will I have to wait before I can come in?
Unfortunately our beds are full nearly all of the time and we have several people our waiting list year round. Generally speaking, it could be a couple of weeks or it could be several months.
In the meantime we would encourage you to contact the local council to open a homeless application, and also suggest that you apply to supported accommodation in the areas if that is suitable. We may be able to help you do this if you visit our office at 50 High Street South, Rushden.
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Please email us if you have any further questions that aren’t answered on our website foundations@encompasscharity.org.uk