Stevenage Haven Move on Accommodation
One of the key issues facing staff and residents at our hostel is the lack of move on accommodation which means that residents are forced to stay at the hostel longer than necessary. It also means that Stevenage Haven is forced to turn more homeless people away because there are no hostel beds available. For residents who have rent arrears the problem is more severe since the housing provider will then not consider that resident. It is for these reasons that one of our trustees key objectives is to increase the amount of move on accommodation Stevenage Haven manages.
Haven 2
Haven 2 was our first move on property opened in 2005 in partnership with Stevenage Borough Council. It is a shared maisonette where each of the 4 clients have their own bedrooms and share kitchen and bathroom facilities. Residents are supported by members of staff from Chris Foster House throughout their stay at Haven 2.
Havens 3, 4, 5, & 6
Building on the success of Haven 2, Stevenage Haven, in partnership with Stevenage Borough Council, opened Havens 3, 4, 5, & 6 in February 2008. These are self contained one bedroom properties which will accommodate ex-residents of Chris Foster House or Haven 2 who are over 25 and in full time work, training or education. Clients in Havens 3 to 6 are welcome to continue using Chris Foster House Day Services but specific support is not provided as it is for Haven 2.
2009 was a successful year where we doubled our move on accommodation capacity from 8 units to 16.
The Annexe
In partnership with North Herts Homes, the Annexe became Stevenage Haven’s 3rd move on property in January 2009. The Annexe is a large 4 bedroom flat with shared kitchen/diner, lounge and bathroom. This property is next door to the hostel and therefore provides residents with easy access to hostel for continuing day service access and support. Due to redevelopment this property ceased to be avaialable early in 2011.
Springfields 1-4
In late 2008 Stevenage Haven entered into a management agreement with Stevenage Consolidated Charities to manage four 1 bedroom cottages, Springfields 1-4, for use as move-on accommodation for Chris Foster House residents. These properties are small self contained cottages providing a lounge/kitchen, bedroom and bathroom with outhouse providing a washing machine and freezer. The cottages share a communal garden.
Haven 7
In partnership with Stevenage Borough Council, Haven 7 is a three bedroomed house with shared lounge, kitchen / diner and bathroom which came into use quarter two 2011.
More Move On
Stevenage Haven is seeking to add further similar properties in the future in order to increase the amount of move-on accommodation and reduce bed blocking at Chris Foster House. Average length of stay at Chris Foster House is continuing to lengthen due to the decreasing amount of move on accommodation available for single homeless people in Stevenage.
All residents are eligible to apply for move on accommodation when any becomes available. Prospective tenants are selected through a referral process and selection interview and if successful are issued initially with a 6 months Assured Shorthold Tenancy. All tenants are encouraged to access the day services available at Chris Foster House. Haven 2 residents are also provided with ongoing support through regular visits and ongoing support plans. The main objectives are to continue to address the support needs of tenants and, once they are ready to move on, to identify more permanent move on accommodation which will allow each tenant to live a more independent and settled way of life back in the community.
Staff spend a lot of time investing in clients support and there’s a real sense of satisfaction in seeing clients move on to secure their own tenancies. Our thanks to our partners in assisting residents to move onto secure and settled lifestyles in the community.