Chris Foster House Emergency Hostel
Chris Foster House
is an emergency hostel accommodating eighteen single homeless people over the age of sixteen, 14 men and 4 women. Opened in 2003 it was a newly renovated building, provided by Stevenage Borough Council. Chris Foster House provides accommodation, care and hope for homeless people. As well as being an emergency single homeless hostel the building also provides a range of day time services for homeless people.
Iain Wright, MP for Hartlepool and under secretary for state at the Department of Communities and Local Government visited Chris Foster House in February 2009 and met with residents and staff of the hostel. Mr Wright said “Not only do staff give people a place to stay but they pro-actively help them to get jobs. These people are getting real skills to go out and get real work. This place gives people hope.”
Giving people hope and the support needed to effect change is at the heart of what Chris Foster House is all about. Provision of emergency accommodation for the 14 men and 4 women who live in the hostel is certainly important but providing the means to move forward into secure and settled lifestyles in the community is at the heart of our staff’s mission in working with clients. Our staff achieve this first and foremost by treating all clients with dignity and respect, by effective key working and provision of support, and by staff recognising the need for effective partnership working with other agencies. As well as referring clients to specialist agencies we also benefit from some agencies providing visiting services such as a specialist CAB advisor who visits the hostel weekly.
The property is a large detached house and staff try to make it as homely an environment as possible. Residents receive all their meals at the hostel for which they pay a modest daily charge. We offer our clients a bed, laundry and washing facilities, a hot evening meal, coffee, tea and snacks during the evening, soup and sandwich lunch and breakfast. There is also a large rear garden which is also the only area where smoking is allowed.
More importantly we offer a warm welcome and
staff
and
volunteers
who are committed to creating an atmosphere where each individual can work towards resettlement and independent living within the community.
Each resident has a key worker who is there to help them with any problems they may have. We work with them to access health care, training, benefits, careers advice and on other social issues which may be standing in their way. After an initial assessment by the key workers we work with the client to re-house them with appropriate move on accommodation.
The hostel is open 24 x 7 all year around and is usually full. For the last 7 years we have refused an average of 512 referrals per annum because we were full. A minimum of two waking staff are always on duty. Entry to the hostel is by referral only, generally from a partner agency. Residents are accepted on a 56 day licence which can be extended if residents are engaging with our services.
Day Services are an important part of Stevenage Haven's service offering and are available to all residents and ex-residents who can also volunteer to help with the many daily tasks at the hostel. Day Services include Broadway's It's Your Move education programme.
Stevenage Haven staff seek to provide a safe and supportive environment that allows the residents to regain their strength and self-esteem. Residents are always treated as individuals and staff understand that while homeless people initially require shelter, warmth and food they also need to be listened to, without judgment, and supported to enable them to look to the future.
Where do our clients come fromOur clients arrive bringing with them a range of problems and experiences demonstrating there are hundreds of ways to become homeless.
Our staff
A key element of Chris Foster House's success is the committment and passion of our staff team. The Project always has at least two staff on duty and staff organise and deliver a wide range of activities. The staff are committed to working together to ensure Chris Foster House is a welcoming place that respects all its clients and focuses on empowering them to successfully re-establish themselves in the community.
Our Volunteers
We have around 30 volunteers who come to the Haven on a rota basis. The volunteers are there to help the staff with the routine tasks of running the night shelter and to offer support and friendship to clients when needed.
Who funds us
Although the bulk of our funding now comes from Hertfordshire County Council in the form of Supporting People Grant and from Housing Benefit and Client Rents, we still rely heavily on the goodwill of the people of Stevenage, our Supporters, to help us to run the Haven. Local schools, churches, charitable groups, organisations, businesses and individuals all contribute towards the continued success and development of the Haven. We are always trying to raise more funds to continue and develop our work.