£1.3m to help homeless in Walsall

A pilot project to help Walsall rough sleepers get housing is being expanded to help more homeless people.

A report to Walsall Council’s scrutiny committee says the authority has secured £1.3 million from the West Midlands Combined Authority to run Housing First to support more people.

Walsall was one of the town’s chosen to run the pilot which has so far helped almost 30 people get into tenancies.

The new cash injection will enable the authority to work with Fry Accord and housing providers to help 88 people.

The report also hailed the success of the winter Night Shelter scheme, which closes on March 31 and has helped more than 120 people.

Paul Gordon, Walsall Council’s head of business change, said they were now looking to build on these schemes and support more homeless people turn their lives around.

He said: “The night shelter opened on October 15 and will close on March 31.

“During this time and to date we have supported 123 rough sleepers of which 43 have secured accommodation via various housing providers and 55 have utilised the night shelter less than five nights of which 24 only one night.

“We will continue to work with remaining cohort and support them into the most appropriate accommodation available.

“Currently 13 have been profiled for Housing First Project. Alongside the Housing First we have the New Beginnings project which supports up to 10 rough sleeping sex workers.

“Moving forward we have secured funding of £1.3 million via WMCA in partnership with Public Health to deliver Housing First to 88 complex individuals.

“Our support provider is Fry Accord who will work in partnership with local housing providers to secure suitable accommodation in the right location.

“We are also waiting for further funding confirmation via various funding streams which will enable us to continue and expand our support team as well as reopening the night shelter from winter 2019.

“Our aim is to build upon our current model and to support individuals further onto training, education, employment and other opportunities.”