MP impressed by homeless youngsters

Published by Debs Ramsden for Nottingham Community Housing Association Ltd in Housing

The MP for Nottingham East, Chris Leslie, visited  Corporation Oaks on Woodborough Road on 28 October to find out more about the work that Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA) offers to homeless young people.  

Mr. Leslie was especially keen to find out how the Project was progressing, as his predecessor, John Heppell, who retired at the last election, carried out the official opening back in 2001. 

Run by NCHA's Housing with Care & Support division, Corporation Oaks is a 13-bed supported housing project.  It provides intensive person-centred support to people aged 16-25 with the aim of helping them move on to independent living as well as re-entry into education and/or training. 

Among the many skills taught, there is a heavy focus on social responsibility and tackling anti-social behaviour.  When moving in, tenants sign up to a 'Good Neighbour' agreement so that they understand how their behaviour impacts on their community. 

Mr. Leslie spoke to two of the services users - 19-year old Jack Pates and 17-year old Olivia Mulvaney.  He was impressed that both had been supported by NCHA out of homelessness into further education.  Jack is at college studying Health and Social Care and would like to work with the elderly.  Olivia meanwhile is in sixth form studying A-levels and she hopes to study nursing at university. 

A major concern for all service providers of homeless support is the reduction in funding for young people's projects.  NCHA believes that young people greatly improve their chances of reaching their full potential and successfully maintaining future tenancies when they receive support and guidance at this critical age - a belief supported by feedback from previous tenants who are doing just that. 

The busy MP also visited Foothold and Shine, two projects which deal with homeless families and domestic abuse.  Shine supports 40 women who have or are experiencing Domestic Abuse and Foothold supports 31 families who are homeless or at risk of being homeless.  Foothold is delivered in partnership with Nacro and Framework.  

Both services provide tenancy related support to help maintain current or new tenancies and work with women and families in crisis who may need an urgent response to their housing needs.  Both SHINE and Foothold are the only services available in the City for these vulnerable groups.