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Stevenage Haven Floating Support


Prevention of homelessness is a key priority for central and local government and also for Stevenage Haven.  Our hostel staff were always clear that a key area where they felt Stevenage Haven’s work needed to be expanded was in pro-actively supporting residents who had moved onto their own homes in order to deal with issues residents faced and to avoid repeat homelessness.  This was why back in 2005-6 we were actively fundraising in order to be able to start our ‘Secure & Settled’ Floating Support Service.

The Secure & Settled Project commenced in September 2007 and provides proactive floating tenancy support to ex-residents of Chris Foster House who have their own tenancies in the community.  A unique aspect of this service is that the clients will already know their support workers when the service commences rather than a stranger visiting them in their new home.  The service helps clients to resolve problems which, without support, could cause them to lose their tenancies.  Funding was secured for a three year project with a part time ‘Secure & Settled’ worker, Tania Barradell, for 27.5 hours per week.  Tania has continued to be very busy with a full case load.

A major success in 2009 was the award of a 3 year contract by Hertfordshire Supporting People to Stevenage Haven to provide 25 hours per week of  Floating Support for ex-residents of Chris Foster House.  This award was made possible by the success of the Secure & Settled Project.  Our thanks to Supporting People and the Secure & Settled funders who have made this expansion of  services possible. These include the Peter de Haan Charitable Trust; the Albert Hunt Trust; the Drapers Company; Hertfordshire Community Foundation, the Dowager Countess Eleanor Peel Trust and St Albans Sleepout sponsors.

Ashlea Wolfe joined Stevenage Haven in June 2009 as our second floating support worker providing 20 of the 25 hours Floating Support. under the new contract.  Tania increased her hours and provides the other 5 hours support.
Ashlea commented:  "I left school and went to college to study for an AVCE in Health and Social Care and for an A ’level in Psychology.  It was here that I gained experience working with a variety of people from different backgrounds.  I am now studying for a Social Work degree at Havering College and I have completed a work placement at a day centre for people with learning disabilities.  I started volunteering at The Haven in October 2007 and became a Sessional Worker in April 2008.  My experience through volunteering and sessional work has enhanced my knowledge about homelessness.  The staff and residents are all great to work with and I’m looking forward to working with them in my new post as a Floating Support Worker.”  Ashlea returned to college full time late in 2010 in order to finish her studies.

Stevenage Haven's Trustees are committed to the ongoing provision of our Floating Support Services.  These services have prevented a number of ex-residents from being evicted from their properties with the majority of clients achieving secure and settled lifestyles in the community having been helped to resolve problems which might otherwise have threatened their tenancies and led to repeat homelessness. The Secure & Settled Service will be secured in the long term as part of a planned new hostel development which was originally expected to open early in 2011 but which now is not  likely to open until mid 2012.  Meanwhile additional Trust Funding is being sought to cover the gap in funding this delay now causes.










  STEVENAGE HAVEN providing Shelter and Support for Single Homeless People
Stevenage Haven, 5 Ditchmore Lane, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, SG1 3LJ
Tel: 01438 354884;  Fax: 01438 340155;  E-mail: info@stevenagehaven.org.uk
 Registered Charity No. 1064495 & Company Limited by Guarantee No. 3366848


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