Generous donations lift the spiritis
It is has been a bad start to the New Year for HOPE. A couple of weeks ago someone (and we know who you are) decided to rip all of our gas copper piping out of a move on property that we run for long term homeless people. The incident was reported in Worksop Guardian and prompted a really good result. Town Cars near Kilton Arms donated £250 towards the costs of repairs, Joan Simpson gave HOPE her heating allowance and a generous anonymous person dropped off £50.
It was an awful thing that happened, but it gives me HOPE for the future that people were prepared to put their hands in their pockets and help us.
We are very grateful.
It was an awful thing that happened, but it gives me HOPE for the future that people were prepared to put their hands in their pockets and help us.
We are very grateful.
2012 - another great year?
2011 has seen a lot of change at HOPE, these changes have only just begun - 2012 will see the Emergency Accommodation and Day Service combine to make the HOPE House Project, which will operate from April 2012. This new service will require clients who need to stay with us, to get involved in a variety of activities designed to help them improve their lives. These activities will range from formal education, to work experience and volunteering. The ultimate outcome is an end to rough sleeping and the cycle of homelessness that many currently face. Keep up to date with what is going on by become a 'friend' of HOPE Worksop and HOPE Retford on facebook!!
HOUSING BENEFIT CUTS
More than 50 per cent of private landlords are planning to reduce the number of homes they let to tenants on housing benefits, according to research by the National Landlords Association (NLA).
The NLA survey questioned landlords about Local Housing Allowance (LHA), with 58 per cent saying they would have to cut the number of properties they let to benefit recipients. In total, 90 per cent of these landlords plan to do so in the next 18 months; with one third stating they would be reducing their LHA properties immediately. The news will be a bitter blow for the Government which expects private sector rents to fall on the back of cuts to housing benefit.
More than 80 per cent of landlords expressed concern about the reduction of LHA rates from the average market rent to the bottom 30 per cent. The same number of landlords were also worried about future LHA increases being linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rather than true market rents.
The survey found that 90 per cent of landlords stated that they cannot afford to reduce their rents to absorb changes to LHA. The large majority of landlords are faced with mortgage repayments and rising running costs.
David Salusbury, Chairman, National Landlords Association, commented: “These findings by the National Landlords Association are concerning as they indicate that cuts to LHA benefits are forcing landlords out of this part of the rental market.
“The private rented sector is playing an increasingly important role in providing accommodation to housing benefit recipients in the UK. The Government is implementing cuts which, this survey tells us, is likely to lead to an increasing number of people struggling to pay their rent.
“The NLA believes there is a risk that the Government’s policies will result in fewer affordable rental properties available to vulnerable families across the UK, especially as the number of people claiming benefits continues to rise. Benefit payments must ensure that LHA tenants are not left at risk and that landlords providing this much-needed housing can cover their costs.”
Here at HOPE, we have already seen local landlords asking for Rent in Advance rather than Bonds, to get round the restrictions implemented by the last government. We have also found it increasingly difficult to place homeless people in the private rented sector, with landlords preferring to rent to people in work. The introduction of the LHA and the new restrictions on single room rent, will inevitably lead to a higher incidence of homelessness in our District. With these reductions it will be increasingly difficult to move people on, and with the new Housing Benefit regulations around exempt accommodation, it doesnt look very promising that even we will be able to survive in the medium term. I am beginning to despair for the future of some of the most vulnerable and expect to see a dramatic increase in crime, anti social behaviour, drug taking and rough sleeping. Deja vue?
More than 50 per cent of private landlords are planning to reduce the number of homes they let to tenants on housing benefits, according to research by the National Landlords Association (NLA).
The NLA survey questioned landlords about Local Housing Allowance (LHA), with 58 per cent saying they would have to cut the number of properties they let to benefit recipients. In total, 90 per cent of these landlords plan to do so in the next 18 months; with one third stating they would be reducing their LHA properties immediately. The news will be a bitter blow for the Government which expects private sector rents to fall on the back of cuts to housing benefit.
More than 80 per cent of landlords expressed concern about the reduction of LHA rates from the average market rent to the bottom 30 per cent. The same number of landlords were also worried about future LHA increases being linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rather than true market rents.
The survey found that 90 per cent of landlords stated that they cannot afford to reduce their rents to absorb changes to LHA. The large majority of landlords are faced with mortgage repayments and rising running costs.
David Salusbury, Chairman, National Landlords Association, commented: “These findings by the National Landlords Association are concerning as they indicate that cuts to LHA benefits are forcing landlords out of this part of the rental market.
“The private rented sector is playing an increasingly important role in providing accommodation to housing benefit recipients in the UK. The Government is implementing cuts which, this survey tells us, is likely to lead to an increasing number of people struggling to pay their rent.
“The NLA believes there is a risk that the Government’s policies will result in fewer affordable rental properties available to vulnerable families across the UK, especially as the number of people claiming benefits continues to rise. Benefit payments must ensure that LHA tenants are not left at risk and that landlords providing this much-needed housing can cover their costs.”
Here at HOPE, we have already seen local landlords asking for Rent in Advance rather than Bonds, to get round the restrictions implemented by the last government. We have also found it increasingly difficult to place homeless people in the private rented sector, with landlords preferring to rent to people in work. The introduction of the LHA and the new restrictions on single room rent, will inevitably lead to a higher incidence of homelessness in our District. With these reductions it will be increasingly difficult to move people on, and with the new Housing Benefit regulations around exempt accommodation, it doesnt look very promising that even we will be able to survive in the medium term. I am beginning to despair for the future of some of the most vulnerable and expect to see a dramatic increase in crime, anti social behaviour, drug taking and rough sleeping. Deja vue?
SIR RANULPH FIENNES Sir Ranulph Fiennes and HOPE's Treasurer Alan Sutton.
To celebrate Sir Ranulph Fiennes as the 'Worlds Greatest Living Explorer' (Guinness Book of Records). Mr Henry Shelton, celebrated London based artist,
was commissioned to undertake a sketch portrait. Sir Ran has kindly donated the portrain to HOPE. Alan said, "As the Treasurer at HOPE I was delighted to be invited to the National Geological Society to accept this portrait. The presentation was made in the world famous Map Room. We will be hanging the portrait in our main office, it will act as a motivator when times are tough." Sandy, HOPE's Chief Executive, said, " We are honoured to have the patronage of such a distinguished personality. Sir Ran's sense of adventure and risk is one that everyone at HOPE can relate to." |  Sandy receiving the portrait from HOPE's Treasurer Alan Sutton |
THE HOPE PROJECT FROM THE DOGS TRUST
see under Day Services
for more on the Dogs
Trust
The Dogs Trust Hope Project provides free and subsidised veterinary treatment to dogs whose owners are homeless or in temporary housing. The scheme runs in 94 towns and cities across the UK.
Dog owners must apply for a veterinary entitlement card through a participating homelessness organisation such as HOPE Services. The scheme provides free neutering, vaccinations, microchipping, worming and flea treatments. Dogs Trust will also subsidise most additional, necessary treatments up to a value of £250, with the owner paying the first £10 towards the treatment.
What a fabulous scheme!!!!!
If you are using our services and you have a four legged friend and you are on a low income, register with either Sandy or Jan at No. 17. Until you are registered the above scheme will not be available, so register before you need it.
Talking of dogs the Dogs Trust have been to look at our emergency accommodation, and will be running a story in the next issue of Wag - the Dogs Trusts' donor magazine - on homelessness and pets. I, personally, have been a life-long supporter of the Dogs Trust and the work they are doing with homeless people and dogs is really important.
Dog owners must apply for a veterinary entitlement card through a participating homelessness organisation such as HOPE Services. The scheme provides free neutering, vaccinations, microchipping, worming and flea treatments. Dogs Trust will also subsidise most additional, necessary treatments up to a value of £250, with the owner paying the first £10 towards the treatment.
What a fabulous scheme!!!!!
If you are using our services and you have a four legged friend and you are on a low income, register with either Sandy or Jan at No. 17. Until you are registered the above scheme will not be available, so register before you need it.
Talking of dogs the Dogs Trust have been to look at our emergency accommodation, and will be running a story in the next issue of Wag - the Dogs Trusts' donor magazine - on homelessness and pets. I, personally, have been a life-long supporter of the Dogs Trust and the work they are doing with homeless people and dogs is really important.
LETS WITH PETS
Times are hard and for none more so than our canine friends. Being homeless with a dog can be
really difficult, specially as most landlords will not take pets. Have a look at Lets With Pets www.letswithpets.org.uk for information on how to find landlords and how to look after your dog once you have a place of your own. The site is full of helpful information and tips.
www.letswithpets.org.uk
TEAM DAY
In March - all HOPE staff got together to look to the future. We discussed everything from improving current services to developing new ones.
All staff took part and the new ideas generated will inform our new strategic business plan, currently being formulated.
Thanks to all staff who took part. The three action points taken from the day are:
1. With the aim of creating better understand of HOPE and tackling perceptions of stigma, run ‘open days/periods’ where people can tour in some way the facilities and achieve this by ‘going to where the people are’, so some form of outreach (talks, events, market stalls etc.) to invite people in. There is a circular aspect to this area so it seemed to make sense to include it as one action point.
2. There was a lot of ideas around how you link services, what is offered and how to manage that again with perceptions the general public have of ‘the homeless’ and the practicalities of delivering support. Some of the ideas were around creating separate places/buildings to achieve this. The action point is not to plan to create a new building of some sort, but to do a full review of how the current buildings are used. This is both pragmatic and addresses something of a theme. I suggest you start with a ‘blank sheet’ so recognise current use but not be tied to that. This process will also show whether a ‘new building’ is needed and in doing so will generate the reasons for that, or indeed why not.
3. The warehouse team expressed appreciation of being included, a third action point is to work out how to link and communicate between the various departments and individuals, maybe the warehouse in particular. The ‘open days'/periods’ could include people internal to HOPE.
All staff took part and the new ideas generated will inform our new strategic business plan, currently being formulated.
Thanks to all staff who took part. The three action points taken from the day are:
1. With the aim of creating better understand of HOPE and tackling perceptions of stigma, run ‘open days/periods’ where people can tour in some way the facilities and achieve this by ‘going to where the people are’, so some form of outreach (talks, events, market stalls etc.) to invite people in. There is a circular aspect to this area so it seemed to make sense to include it as one action point.
2. There was a lot of ideas around how you link services, what is offered and how to manage that again with perceptions the general public have of ‘the homeless’ and the practicalities of delivering support. Some of the ideas were around creating separate places/buildings to achieve this. The action point is not to plan to create a new building of some sort, but to do a full review of how the current buildings are used. This is both pragmatic and addresses something of a theme. I suggest you start with a ‘blank sheet’ so recognise current use but not be tied to that. This process will also show whether a ‘new building’ is needed and in doing so will generate the reasons for that, or indeed why not.
3. The warehouse team expressed appreciation of being included, a third action point is to work out how to link and communicate between the various departments and individuals, maybe the warehouse in particular. The ‘open days'/periods’ could include people internal to HOPE.
