Ten new homes have been built for people facing homelessness in Salford thanks to ForHousing and the Government’s Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme (RSAP).
The progressive landlord has converted five newly purchased semi-detached properties into 10 one-bedroom flats, which have been furnished and are available at a low-cost Social Rent to people who may otherwise end up sleeping rough.
The £1.37m redevelopment of these homes, spread across Irlam, Eccles, Little Hulton and Central Salford received a total of £690,000 funding from the RSAP.
ForHousing has been working closely with Salford City Council to identify the people who will be offered places in the homes.
Now a second phase of six new homes for Social Rent in Little Hulton, Salford are being developed by ForHousing after the landlord secured an additional £390,000 funding from the RSAP.
Three houses are being converted into six new apartments by ForHousing. The development, worth close to £800,000, is being designed by architects Whiteley Eaves and will start on site in December 2021 with completion earmarked for spring 2022.
The Government’s £433m RSAP aims to deliver up to 6,000 homes for rough sleepers and will bring forward accommodation to help tackle rough-sleeping in the long-term. The RSAP complements the Government’s ‘Everyone In’ initiative which was launched last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Everyone In ensured that people who were sleeping rough, at imminent risk of living on the streets or living in communal sleep spaces where social distancing was not possible, were offered emergency accommodation.
During the pandemic, ForHousing worked closely with local authorities in Salford, Knowsley and West Cheshire to provide 139 homes for temporary accommodation for people facing homelessness — with 43 people going on to secure permanent homes with the landlord.
In the last year the landlord has let 43% of its homes to people and families who were previously homeless, at risk of homelessness or sleeping rough. During 2020 ForHousing also completed work on a £3.9m project that saw 39 homes built for people facing homelessness in Salford.
Nigel Sedman, Group Director of Homes from ForHousing said: “At ForHousing we believe everyone should have a place to call home. We are proud of all the developments we have built so far across Salford to help people at risk of being without a roof over their heads.
“It’s really great news that ten people who may otherwise have been sleeping rough can now move into these new truly affordable homes in Irlam, Eccles, Little Hulton and Central Salford.
“Now that we have secured funding for six more homes, we look forward to starting on site in December in Little Hulton and to continuing to work in partnership with Salford City Council to improve people’s lives.”
Councillor Tracy Kelly, Statutory Deputy City Mayor and Lead Member for Housing, Property and Regeneration at Salford City Council, commented: “A big congratulations goes to our partners for their efforts in providing these homes for people facing homelessness. We are in a housing crisis and the homes are desperately needed, they will make such a huge difference to the people who move in.
“It is important that more funding is brought forward so we can provide more affordable homes — like those available at Social Rent. Nobody should be forced to sleep on the streets.”
Tenancies for the homes provided through the RSAP will be for a maximum of two years to help ensure accommodation continues to be available for rough sleepers for many years to come.
