Following a successful funding bid to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), Dacorum Borough Council has been awarded Rough Sleeper Initiative (RSI) funding. The funding will enable the Council to deliver initiatives over a three-year period that will play a vital role in eradicating rough sleeping and homelessness in the borough.
The Council has commissioned local provider DENS to deliver Dacorum Street Outreach. The service has two dedicated Street Outreach workers who will work intensively with those identified as rough sleepers. They will provide tailored support to build trust and access to the necessary services to improve outcomes and work with individuals to bring them in off the street and into accommodation.
This will be closely aligned with the support delivered by the Council’s Homeless Prevention Team, DENS Day Centre and the Elms Hostel, to ensure a joined up approach to tackling rough sleeping. The award of additional funding has also enabled the Council to extend its Housing First initiative, which has been running for the last two years, managed by local housing association, Hightown.
Housing First is a highly innovative approach to addressing homelessness in people with multiple or highly complex needs, providing intensive, holistic support to help them sustain their tenancies and achieve long-term desired outcomes.
Cllr Margaret Griffiths, Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: “I’m very pleased to confirm our successful bid for funding, which will enable the continued development of key initiatives delivered in partnership with DENS and Hightown Housing Association. Three year funding enables us to provide service stability for providers and for our initiatives to develop, evolve and adapt to new emerging issues, providing flexibility to the single homeless pathway. This is fantastic news for Dacorum, and most importantly for the residents who are most in need of the vital support the services will provide.”
Wendy Lewington, Chief Executive at DENS, commented: “We are very pleased to be able to provide this intensive outreach service. The outreach workers will be on the ground providing specialist support, whilst working closely with colleagues at the Day Centre and The Elms Hostel; meaning we can provide a truly wrap around and holistic service to anyone facing homelessness in Dacorum, and ensure everyone can access the accommodation and support they need.”
David Bogle, Chief Executive at Hightown Housing Association, said: “I’m very pleased that we are continuing with the Housing First initiative in Dacorum in partnership with the Council. We have seen how Housing First can successfully help people to break the cycle of rough sleeping and move forward with their lives in their own permanent, safe and secure home.”
Header image ©Srdjan/AdobeStock
