What is the Housing First service?
Housing First is an internationally evidenced intervention, which has proven successful in supporting people with multiple needs and vulnerabilities to maintain housing.
We offer housing and personal support to up to 40 people:
- with long histories of homelessness, failed tenancies and exclusion,
- who face high levels of co-occurring unmet needs
- are referred through the Complex Needs (Housing) Panel for support and stable accommodation.
Individuals are offered a place they can call home, along with an intensive long-term tenancy support package to enable them to maintain it. In parallel we offer flexible 1-to-1 support including:
- Personal Independent Payment assessments.
- Capability for work assessments.
- Receipt of correct Housing Benefit and Council Tax reduction.
- Registering as new patient at the GPs.
- Support to set up utility bills (water/ gas and electric).
- Sourcing/buying necessities (white goods)
- Tenancy management.
Access to Housing First is via referral from the complex housing needs panel. Please call 01274 723 863 or email info@thebridgeproject.org.uk to make contact and find out more.
Housing First Case Study
PD’s last tenancy prior to engagement with Housing First was 20 years ago and he had spent the last 5 years rough sleeping. PD was referred by the complex needs housing panel, and his case was allocated to the navigation team. Navigators made contact with PD and used an active engagement approach to build a strong relationship with him. This developed trust and confidence for PD that support was not reliant on him ‘jumping through the right hoops’ but was unconditional and reliable. PD worked closely with his navigator for 4 months prior to moving into his tenancy in an area of his choice. He has remained in the tenancy for 20 months.
“My life has been turned round. I love my home and its thanks to Housing First and my support worker who has been my rock”
Housing First principles:
- People have a right to a home.
- Flexible support is provided for as long as is needed.
- Housing and support are separated.
- Individuals have choice/control.
- An active engagement approach is used.
- People are supported to identify their strengths, goals, and aspirations.
- A harm reduction approach is used.
In Partnership
In Bradford, Housing First is delivered by Bridge in partnership with Waythrough.
Thanks to the press for reporting on this important service for Bradford.
- the T&A – https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/25593190.new-york-style-scheme-support-rough-sleepers-expanded/
- the BBC – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cew4j77q199o
