Left to right : The garden at The Greens , a Humankind-owned housing development in Sheffield ; Endeavour House in Bradford ; the kitchen at Endeavour House . |
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figures indicating there ’ s been a 17 per cent increase in those at risk of homelessness as a result of no-fault evictions from the private rented sector . Even social housing providers turn away people who have a history of rent arrears or anti-social behaviour , which is why Humankind focuses on supporting people who may have no other options available to them . As well as homes , we offer independent living services that help people set up and maintain a home , maximise their income and pay rent , develop their confidence and look after their health and wellbeing . On average , 90 per cent of the people we support go on to move into permanent housing , and every year hundreds manage to secure employment , participate in training and improve their mental and physical health while working with us . |
COLLEEN ’ S STORY
‘ I first came to Humankind in need of housing after a rough time in my life and straight from a detox . The team there not only made me feel welcome , they ironed out all my “ teething ” problems concerning my new house and they were prompt , polite and punctual … I have lived with Humankind for six years now and am grateful for the team who have supported me without judgement . I now have the chance to continue life with greater ease and not having to worry about my housing in any way .’
As a sector , we know that connected services and shared
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Private landlords are often reluctant to let properties to people experiencing challenges ... Even social housing providers turn away people who have a history of rent arrears or anti-social behaviour . |
expertise are integral to providing effective recovery services . Humankind is proud to work with a wide range of partners and bring our experience and knowledge to a variety of initiatives , including the Greater Manchester Housing First ( GMHF ) pilot . We are one of several organisations involved in the project , which is part of a nationwide initiative that takes an evidence-based approach of using housing as springboard to enable individuals with multiple and complex needs to begin recovery and move away from homelessness .
The pilot acknowledges that while many factors affect
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a person ’ s ability to remain stably housed , they are all more effectively addressed when a person is housed . Alongside organisations with expertise in mental and physical health , criminal justice , housing and other areas , we support people who are facing multiple disadvantages to ensure they have the best possible chance of building stable lives . Since the pilot launched in January 2021 , the multi-agency partnership has helped house more than 320 people and the programme was recently named as the best initiative for tackling homelessness at the Northern Housing Awards .
NT ’ S STORY
NT came to Housing First with a difficult and traumatic history . After joining the army at a young age and being involved in active combat , NT was diagnosed with PTSD and other mental health issues and his life entered a cycle of instability including substance use , homelessness , anti-social behaviour and offending . When he was not in custody , NT lived a chaotic life and struggled to work with support services or maintain his accommodation . After a year of work by the multi-agency team , Housing First managed to secure housing for NT and helped him move in and furnish his property . The collective determination and commitment by his support team has helped NT realise that he has choices and control over his future . Diverse approaches such as these have the ability to make a
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significant difference to the lives of thousands , including many people who use substances – but the work of third sector organisations such as ours can only be part of the solution . For everyone to have access to safe and stable housing , there needs to be sustained investment and policies that focus on increasing social and supported housing . As part of the new drug strategy , the government has committed to invest £ 53m over the next three years to fund a range of housing support options which will improve the recovery outcomes for people in treatment and reduce the number of people experiencing homelessness . It ’ s vital that this funding is invested in the communities that need it most and that an integrated approach is taken to addressing housing and substance use in tandem .
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
In 2019 , the government committed to building 300,000 new homes each year but only a small proportion of these will be affordable and , while the pace of construction has increased , this target is yet to be met . To truly make a difference to the lives of many of the people Humankind supports , the government must ensure that the homes which are being constructed are affordable for people on average and lower incomes . We therefore support Shelter in their call for the construction of more social housing and we urge the government to continue investing in initiatives such as Housing First which are proving successful nationwide and to deliver on their commitment to end no-fault evictions . It is only through the delivery of policies such as this – and continued investment in programmes such as those our sector delivers – that people who use substances will be able to receive the cohesive services that make a real difference .
Claire McCreanor is director of housing at Humankind
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