Housing First
What is ‘housing first’?
Housing First considers Housing as a human right and offers someone a home with no condition other than being able to maintain their own tenancy. Offering person centered, flexible support based on the strengths aspirations and CHOICES of the individual being housed. Housing First provides a solution for individuals who have been rough sleeping for years and are consequentially generally considered too ‘high risk’ for their own tenancies or for supported accommodation. Housing First is an approach which transforms our thinking about how to intervene with homeless and vulnerable people.
The Housing First Team primarily focus on building relationships with the individuals being housed and thanks to outreach work, often these relationships have already begun. The Navigator also acts as a bridge to other agencies and working partners to help the resident achieve their own aspirations and goals. Here in Somerset, Connect Community Church has been working with Homeless people and Rough Sleepers for over ten years and in that time we have steadily built links and work well in partnership with other agencies and services to achieve this task.
What do our service users say about us?
I feel understood
I don’t feel judged
It feels like home (Connect centre)
They took the time to get to know me
We have helped to house 18 people, 4 people already this year!
Our dedicated team helps with move in, setting up tenancy agreements, bills and helps to furnish their new home. We reach out to the local community for donations of furniture and household goods and are very grateful for the help we receive.
We are incredibly grateful to out volunteers and are always looking for help, we are very much in need of volunteer drivers and mentors to help our service users. As well as help to run out Drop-ins where we serve tea and coffee as wells as meals and snacks. The drop-ins provide a safe space for our service users to connect with our community and we are able to offer socialisation, education and support during these times.
