The Emergency Accommodation

or EA as it is commonly known has over the past 18 months become an essential part of life for many homeless people. Open daily from 5pm until 9.00 am. The EA has provided shelter for over 150 people. Operated on a daily, direct access basis with an average of 91.6 % of its bed’s taken. This figure would be closer to 96% if it was not for exclusions or people failing to access after applying to be accommodated. Clients age from 16-65 with 16-18 year olds at 12%, 18-25 at 13%, 25-40 at 58% and 40+ at 12%.

Not only does the EA provide a bed, it has served 2190 dinners 3285 breakfasts and some would say more importantly 7300 cups of tea or coffee. This may be insignificant to many people, but not for someone who could have just spent many nights sleeping rough. 

The EA also provides showers & safe storage for items. Clients are encouraged to maintain personal hygiene at all times, by being provided with soap, toothpaste and shampoo. Clean towels and bedding are also provided. This culminates in over 1000 loads of washing per year, not accounting for clients personal items that are also washed.

All this is provided by a dedicated team of workers who complete all the relevant documentation, clean the premises and maintain its security. On top of this they provide a friendly face to people who are embroiled in difficult circumstances. This team not only ensure the service is working correctly they are there to listen to clients and to be a comfort when needed.

A warm friendly atmosphere is maintained through a staff client relationship that consists of meetings and consultation about the running of the service. The EA also maintains a strong relationship with the Police and Town centre wardens. Clients are also encouraged to have the same relationship where possible.

The hardest part of providing the service is the maintenance of the building. Staff carried out over 100 minor repairs during 2007. On top of this we have contacted plumbers and electricians on numerous occasions to complete essential repairs. 

Development

The service is constantly striving to improve. Items such as lockers, bed boxes and kitchen units have all been purchased throughout the year. The erection of a smoking shelter (because of new legislation) was also carried out.                                 

Referrals

Many clients come to the EA through numerous external agencies. Over 40% are referred this way. They also come from a multitude of situations. Rough sleeping 14%, shared/supported housing 7%, friends sofas 13%, Institutions 19%, Social Services & Council 10%,  to name just a few.

Overview

We are to many, the last chance they have to access services. Many clients come to us with drug or alcohol 33% & mental health issues 10%. Relationship breakdowns at 35 % is one of the primary reason for them coming to HOPE. Over 71% of clients also have an offending history.

Normally they have failed to obtain help because of a multitude of reasons or have been removed from other services because they have failed to maintain a standard that the service asks. The EA gives them the chance to obtain some stability in their often chaotic lives. This is transferred to our day support services who can work with the client to provide the help they need. Without the EA some client would fail to obtain this help. This statement is backed up by clients and their view.

Client views

These views are representative of the majority of the 150 plus clients we have accommodated and demonstrates that the EA is essential, not only to HOPE clients but to the community as a whole:

*S  came to HOPE direct from Hospital because she had nowhere else to go. All the agencies including mental health services had offered little help. Sarah by her own volition is now more confident and feels that HOPE has helped her to re-establish her life making her feel more ‘normal’ again. “If it wasn’t for HOPE I would be a dead bum”.

*N  who has accessed the service on more than one occasion had left supported housing to build up a relationship with his partner. When this relationship failed he had nowhere to go only HOPE and the EA. “If it wasn’t for HOPE I would still be on the streets and I would be f****d and probably dead”.

*S came from Mansfield as there was no alternative. He was trying to get his life back on track but kept hitting brick walls. “I was lost and confused until I came to the EA. Now I feel far more optimistic about my future”

*A has been a frequent visitor to the EA over a long period of time. He is a young vulnerable male who needed support. “If it was not for the EA I would have no place to sleep and would probably have starved on the streets”

*S came to hope with many problems in his life. He needed a helping hand to get his life back on track. “When I first came to the EA I thought this was the end of the road for me. I felt like I could not have sunk any lower. After time they helped rebuild by confidence and helped my structure my life. I now live in my own flat and I am getting there, again. In a nut shell they probably saved my life”

Help & Support

We have received help from many sources during the year. Volunteers and donations are ongoing. Here at the EA we would like to give special thanks to The Dogs trust for supporting our canine friends. Valley school post 16 centre for awareness and fundraising. We are through supporting people working with Framework to provide the best possible service for our clients.

Move-On Properties

Martin House, Hodthorpe

The project is situated in a small village called Hodthorpe in the District of Bolsover an area in Derbyshire, two miles away from HOPE Services which is situated in Worksop. The Martin House site was developed approximately 15 years ago by English Churches Housing Group creating 12 units of self contained single person accommodation, which is now part of the Riverside Group. HOPE have been managing this project since 2004.

This project has been successful, in 2008 Martin House and its inhabitants fit firmly and happily into Hodthorpe village, adding positive character to the community. 

Support
One of the units is retained as office space and is staffed intermittently throughout the week in order to offer on site support to tenants. The main support is provided from the Worksop Day Service.

The key worker carries out weekly health and safety checks to ensure that the tenant is managing their accommodation and accessing any necessary support.  Agencies currently supporting tenants include the Community Mental Health Team, Learning Disability Team, Alcohol Team and Drug Intervention Teams. As the project is move-on accommodation, the key worker also ensures that clients are working towards independence and acquiring permanent accommodation in the future. 

Tenant’s Involvement
A wide range of activities and other measures are available to enhance the lives of the tenants through their involvement with the Day Service.  These include teaching life skills such as:

• Budgeting

• Shopping 

• Cooking

• Health and Hygiene

• House Keeping

HOPE encourages the tenants to get together and socialise on an informal basis. This includes a bi-monthly meeting, which is a forum for the tenants to air any concerns around their tenancy or neighbours' behaviour. Other topics discussed include possible:

• Days out

• Games evenings

• Film nights

• Bar-B-Q’s

Tenants' views

The tenants are from all walks of life, each have their own individual reasons for needing to stay at Martin House, each have their own story to tell. 

Case history:
'A has been in Martin House since 2006, she ‘found’ HOPE Services after being made homeless, through domestic violence.  She had been staying with a friend but had to leave in order not to jeopardize the tenancy of her friend.  A had both physical and mental health problems, which meant it was difficult for her to sustain a tenancy without support.  A accessed psychiatric help through the HOPE day service, and arranged a GP appointment which led to her having a part of her knee removed – this had been a real worry for A for many years.  A was accepted into the project and since residing at Martin House, A has gained confidence and when she is well, is volunteering within the project, which includes cooking for the occupants in the Emergency Accommodation, painting and cleaning.  

A reports she has never looked back, “Since I have been at HOPE I have had the support I have always needed, I only have to pick up a phone to speak to someone who will help me with my problems”.  A goes on to say “I feel that Martin’s house is a community within the community; we all help each other and know what each other needs.  If it was not for HOPE I dread to think where I would be now, certainly not on the road to recovery, if that is possible.'

Case history:
K had been evicted from the B&B he had been staying in, for damaging the property through neglect.  K presented with undiagnosed depression and anxiety.  K was immediately referred to his GP to arrange a psychiatric assessment, which determined that he was depressed and he has been receiving treatment ever since.  Staff worked with K to improve his self esteem and confidence and he has now been with HOPE for 18 months and is doing very well – his flat is spotless!!  K said “I have never stayed anywhere for so long.  You can have privacy whilst knowing there are other people about who know what problems you’ve got.”

In essence, Martin House is all about giving people a chance to re-learn how to live within the community – building trust, increasing access to education, promoting respect and providing support.   

This project has been so successful that HOPE are planning to duplicate a move on facility of this nature in the centre of Worksop;  we are currently in negotiation with a property developer to ensure this happens during 2008.