Selby St@y is a home-based service that aims to provide a high quality housing support service to vulnerable people and encourage them to manage their own homes independently.
Themes
- Homelessness prevention
- Housing-related support
- Multi-agency/partnership working
Locality
Selby district
Aims
Our aims are:
- To provide a high quality housing support service to vulnerable people, which is responsive to their needs, circumstances and aspirations, in order to prevent them from becoming homeless;
- To support and encourage clients to develop existing skills and gain confidence in their ability to manage their own homes independently; and
- To facilitate access to accommodation with support through our links with partner agencies.
Details
Selby St@y is a home-based service, which means that a support worker will visit you in your own home. Support sessions generally take place on a weekly basis and last for up to two hours. The frequency and duration of support sessions, however, may vary, as we recognise that support needs vary from person to person.
Clients have a full needs and risk assessment, before they are accepted onto the scheme. A support and risk management plan is agreed with both support worker and client and this is reviewed regularly. This is an important way of setting out goals, working towards achieving them and being able to see progress made. We encourage the involvement of carers and other professionals in support planning.
Selby St@y also offers four weekly drop-in services across the district, delivered in partnership with other services, such as Selby District Council housing options team, and childrens' centres, as well as a telephone advice line.
Support provided is within a holistic approach, and is wide-ranging:
- Accessing appropriate accommodation;
- Assistance in setting up and maintaining a home or tenancy, including furnishing your home (via the social fund and other grants);
- Assistance with securing housing benefit and maximising welfare benefits entitlements;
- Assistance with reducing rent arrears and debts;
- Developing confidence around budgeting and domestic skills;
- Assistance with establishing personal safety and security;
- Advocacy and liaison with landlords, utility services and/or other relevant agencies;
- Advice with issues around home maintenance and self care;
- Identifying appropriate agencies to provide specialist support or healthcare, and assisting with access to these;
- Emotional support during stressful times to try and prevent loss of accommodation through inability to cope;
- Encouragement to become more widely involved in community activities and to establish and maintain support networks where appropriate; and
- Encouragement and support to access education, employment and training.
How will this case study improve health and reduce health inequalities?
Our intended outcomes for clients are:
- Reduced homelessness and incidences of repeat homelessness;
- Access to suitable accommodation;
- Increased ability to manage a tenancy successfully and live independently;
- Minimised risk of abandoned or failed tenancies;
- Links to specialist and statutory services to address complex and multiple support needs;
- Reduction in harm associated with alcohol and substance misuse;
- Maximised income through welfare benefit and debt counselling advice, and through improved money management skills;
- Support networks having been explored and established;
- Education, employment and training options having been examined as part of an individual's support plan;
- Less involvement with the criminal justice system;
- Reduced incidences of anti-social behaviour; and
- Reduction of incidences of harassment or abuse.
Contact details
Hannah Brown, manager
Horton Housing Association
Tel: 01757 241051
Email: stayselby@hortonhousing.co.uk
Web: www.hortonhousing.co.uk
