New homes for people at risk of homelessness are created in Liverpool city region in £900,000 project that has converted derelict properties above shops. Tony McDonough reports
Social housing provider ForHousing has created new homes for those at risk of sleeping rough by converting derelict properties above shops.
Costing £900,000, the project has seen the creation of seven new homes above shops in Knowsley. They comprise our studio and three one-bedroom apartments.
These homes are part of the Government’s Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme (RSAP) and backed by more than £200,000 of Homes England funding and £90,000 of Knowsley Council funding.
The £433m RSAP was launched in 2020 to deliver up to 6,000 homes for rough sleepers and bring forward accommodation to help tackle rough sleeping in the long term.
Tenancies for RSAP homes are for a maximum of three years so that support continues to be available for other rough sleepers for many years to come.
New tenants will be offered wrap-around support from ForHousing and the YMCA to give them the best chance of rebuilding their lives and sustaining their tenancy.
This includes one-to-one help with setting up bills, paying rent, drug and alcohol addiction support, employment, volunteering, and training.
Architect Whiteley Eaves, ForHousing has also provided the YMCA with over £22,000 to furnish the homes and to purchase any essential items that tenants might need.
ForHousing owns and manages more than 24,000 homes across the North West, including 1,600 in Knowsley.
Nigel Sedman, executive director of Homes, said: “Everyone should have the security of a safe and stable home. It’s so positive to see people who need it most being supported to start a new chapter in their lives at these high-quality homes.
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“Thanks to the Rough Sleepers Accommodation Programme and our partnership with Knowsley Council and the YMCA, we can help more people have the opportunity to build a brighter future.”
In total, ForHousing will deliver 45 new homes worth more than £8.5m through the RSAP and NSAP programmes.
NSAP is a government funding initiative, separate to RSAP, for schemes focused on preventing people who were sleeping rough and given temporary accommodation during the COVID-19 pandemic, from returning to the streets.