COVENTRY residents who have a history of homelessness are being given a safe place to live and a chance to rebuild their lives as part of a national programme that aims to stop rough sleeping.
Specialist housing provider Stonewater has launched its newest specialist accommodation service and has already welcomed five new customers.
Stonewater submitted a joint bid with West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and was given funding through the government’s Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme (RSAP).
This allowed the housing association to buy five one-bedroom apartments in Coventry city centre, which have been allocated to people with a history of street homelessness.
The apartments give them a safe environment to live and the tenants will also receive specialist support from Coventry City Council’s Brighter Futures Team.
The aim is to support each customer over the next two to three years to rebuild their confidence and work towards therm being able to secure long-term accommodation.
Stonewater’s Head of Supported Living, Andrew King said: “Across England, it’s estimated that more than 2,400 people are sleeping rough every night. “The need for specialist services that can support those who have faced adversity, like homelessness, is ever-growing.
Hopefully enabling our new customers to move forward with their lives, rather than living in a cycle of having to focus all their energy on worrying about where they will sleep every night.”
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street added: “We will continue to work hard to help those who have fallen on tough times and schemes like this demonstrate the impact we can make.”
