Edinburgh Cyrenians Presentation to National Hubs Lead Seminar 14 June 2012 Jane Saren & Amy Hutton
‘No single cause, no single solution’ Cyrenians Homelessness Prevention work
Contents Brief introduction to Cyrenians Why prevention? Cyrenians homelessness prevention services overview Edinburgh HPS Conclusion Q&A Group activity & feedback
Brief introduction to Cyrenians Edinburgh Cyrenians Trust: founded 1968 to alleviate poverty & homelessness 70 fte staff, 33 fte vols; turnover £2m+ p.a.;currently work with 4 local authorities Early proponent of employability work with homeless people Solid record of partnerships with business Early champion of preventative approach
Why prevention? Recognition across public services of costs and unsustainability of “failure demand” Response to Homelessness Act 2003 “Proactive & early intervention…will have more impact than traditional reactive responses to homelessness” CoSLA & Scottish Government Guidance on Prevention of Homelessness, 2009
Cyrenians Homeless Prevention Services Overview Early intervention/ before presentation Landlord mediation Family mediation Financial inclusion Employability Befriending Prepare to Share Homeshare PRS tenancy access Housing Options after presentation PRS tenancy access Flatmates Employability Befriending Family mediation Tenancy sustainment
Edinburgh Homelessness Prevention Service Outcome of review & updating of Edinburgh homelessness strategy in 2008 Primary aim of service is to prevent homelessness presentations Targeting those who’ve not been homeless, but are at impending risk of losing their home Designed to address known risk factors leading to homelessness
How HPS works Holistic – whole person/whole problem Empowering – Key Worker Practice Model Using expertise: both in-house (includes mediation, financial inclusion, employability, PRS access, befriending) and referrals to specialist agencies Plugged in at local level
Results 99% success rate in 2010/11 Evidence of broader improvements in customers’ lives e.g. financial, employment, better mental health, reduced isolation “I don’t know what sort of position I would be in now if it wasn’t for your help” Savings for the local authority
Our ambition Our ambition is for everyone facing the prospect of losing their home to have access to a holistic prevention service No single cause, no single solution: keen to play a part in sharing experience and seeking new approaches Recognise pressures on local authorities Partnership to add to housing options and maximise prevention