Housing & Support
Quality, Safe and Stable Accommodation
New Start understands that both the living environment and the condition of accommodation are instrumental factors in sustaining the health and well-being of vulnerable adults. Therefore, in addition to having a team of support staff dedicated to addressing the needs of the service users, the organisation also has a team of highly skilled maintenance workers, who through training and experience also have a good understanding of the diverse needs of vulnerable adults. This section of the staff team ensures that New Start can provide a rapid response to maintenance and repairs as they arise, competently identifying and addressing Health and Safety issues, proficiently – guaranteeing continual safety to all those accessing a service from New Start.
New Start currently operate 4 accommodation-based schemes for vulnerable adults:
1. The Community Housing Scheme
2. Prospect Lodge
3. The Supported Tenancies Scheme
4. The Abstinence Housing and Support Service. (Click Here)
1. Community Housing Scheme
New Start’s Community Housing Scheme focuses on overcoming the many barriers and difficulties, faced by vulnerable adults and families trying to access quality housing within the Private Landlord Sector. In developing this service New Start have successfully gained the trust and respect of many nationally and locally based Landlords and Property Agents.
The foundation for this service was laid in May 2006 when New Start approached a local property agent with a request to rent a two bedroom terrace property on behalf of a service user who had been residing within the organisations Supported Tenancy Scheme.
For some time prior to the development of this scheme, New Start had made several attempts to engage with the private housing sector for the purpose of securing move on accommodation for the organisations service users. We met with many private landlords with available accommodation, to ask if they would consider offering tenancies to service users residing within New Start schemes. During meetings with private landlords it was explained that the service user groups New Start work with have a history of homelessness, many have experienced mental health problems or drug / alcohol problems and in some instances may have an offending background. The landlords were also informed that the service users New Start would like them to consider will have been living within a stable environment for a long period and it was evident that they were now ready and capable of living within their own tenancy, but due to their housing and employment history they were not in a position to provide landlords or letting agents with the required references or security.
Unfortunately and not surprisingly, New Start’s endeavours were met with negative responses from the landlords we approached. Whilst most landlords were sympathetic, in general they were of the opinion that they could easily let their property to individuals who could provide the required references and security, and did not need to take the risk of letting their property to tenants who they felt could become a nuisance to them and their businesses'.
The progress New Start had been working for came in April 2006 when contact was made with a property management agent responsible for letting properties in the Merseyside area for, and on behalf of local and nationally based landlords. Although initially being against the idea, the organisation was eventually successful in persuading the agent to work with us and offer move on accommodation for service users under set terms and conditions.
Today a portfolio of more than 70 quality households has been built-up within this service. Enabling socially excluded individuals (who otherwise would be living within temporary and unstable housing environments) to make stable homes for themselves and work towards securing both independent and sustainable tenancies as private tenants - with the help and support of New Start’s staff.
2. Prospect Lodge – 24 Hour Supported Scheme
Prospect Lodge is a specialist single-site accommodation based service, for people with enduring mental health problems. The service is delivered in a large renovated Georgian house and former convent. In this building New Start operates a service for up to fifteen people with varied mental health issues. The service is staffed twenty-four hours per day by a team of dedicated support workers, who have a deep understanding of the complex issues associated with mental illness.
Referrals to Prospect Lodge are made direct by Mental Health Teams across Liverpool. The service is proven as being immensely effective in preventing the relapse of mental health and re-hospitalisation, whilst enabling resident’s to sustain living within the community and move towards greater independence.
3. Supported Tenancies Service - Floating Support Scheme
New Start’s Supported Tenancies Service is an accommodation-based project providing support for up to 77 people, living within both shared and self contained properties.
The service offers medium to long-term housing options for vulnerable individuals who often have experience of multiple tenancy breakdowns. Service users who access this project usually have a history of homelessness and may have encountered frequent episodes of rough sleeping. Some struggle with the complexities of living with mental illness; whilst others may experience difficulties relating to long term alcohol dependency, or may have an offending history. It is clear that what ever their issue(s) may be, these people require a stable environment were they can be supported to address these issues at a positive and realistic pace whilst in their own tenancy.
Prospect Lodge and the Supported Tenancies Service are currently commissioned by Liverpool’s Supporting People Body.
4. Abstinence Housing and Support Service
For further details on New Starts Abstinence Housing Service please click the link at the top of this page.
Housing & Support