Work to build eight new homes to help people who would otherwise be at risk of rough sleeping is underway in Salford. The news was announced on World Homeless Day (10th October).
Work to build eight new homes to help people who would otherwise be at risk of rough sleeping is underway in Salford. The news comes on World Homeless Day (Monday 10 October).
The project is led by progressive landlord ForHousing, which has a track record of developing innovative schemes that help people keep a roof over their heads. In the last year, ForHousing let 43% of its homes to families and individuals who were homeless or at risk of being homeless.
The local landlord has recently started work on eight one-bedroom flats on Milton Avenue in Irlam, Salford as part of the government’s Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme (RSAP).
The flats will be furnished and offered at a low-cost social rent to people who may otherwise end up on the streets. The homes are due to welcome tenants from Spring 2023.
Tenancies for RSAP homes are for a maximum of three years so that support continues to be available for other rough sleepers for many years to come.
But ForHousing’s support goes beyond just accommodation. All the tenants will receive the personalised support they need to rebuild their lives from the landlord’s specialist teams in partnership with Salford City Council. This can include help with budgeting or health and social care support.
Martyn Hague, Executive Director of Customer at ForHousing, said: “Tackling homelessness is a priority for us at ForHousing, we’re passionate about improving lives and believe everyone deserves a place to call home
“The current cost-of-living situation is putting more and more people under increasing financial pressure. A sharp rise in homelessness is predicted this winter and World Homeless Day is an opportunity to throw the spotlight on this. Homes like these ones in Irlam are more important than ever.
“Thanks to the Rough Sleepers Accommodation Programme and our partnership with Salford City Council, we can help more people find stability in their life and take steps towards a brighter future.”
The landlord works closely with Salford City Council to identify local people in need and offer them a home.
Councillor Tracy Kelly, Deputy City Mayor and Lead Member for Housing, Property and Regeneration at Salford City Council, said: “Homelessness continues to be a major issue for residents in the city, with over 4,500 households presenting as homeless in the past year and numbers in temporary accommodation continuing to rise.
“These new homes and the support package that comes with them are yet another innovative way housing partners in Salford are trying to support those at risk of rough sleeping and prevent homelessness.”
These new homes in Irlam follow earlier phases which saw six homes refurbished in Little Hulton that opened in May, while a further 10 homes were created through remodelling existing housing in central Salford in 2021.
Next, ForHousing will be working on another scheme of eight new-build homes in Pendlebury, Swinton, after recently securing funding.
And in 2023 the landlord will welcome new tenants into seven one-bedroom flats in Knowsley, where it also owns and manages more than 1,600 homes.
To date, the landlord has developed 22 new homes thanks to RSAP funding, and in total, ForHousing is expecting to invest £1.8m into these new homes.
The Government’s £433m RSAP was launched in 2020 to deliver up to 6,000 homes for rough sleepers and bring forward accommodation to help tackle rough sleeping in the long term.
Independently of RSAP, ForHousing has brought forward a number of collaborative projects to tackle homelessness, including building a £3.9m scheme in Salford of 39 homes specifically for people facing homelessness.
