Ipswich Borough Council has launched a new project to provide 67 supported housing beds in Ipswich for single homeless people, with the aim of preventing and relieving homelessness and rough sleeping.
The Council’s Housing Options officers are working with local partners including Anglia Care Trust, Orwell Care and Support, Sanctuary Care and Support, Salvation Army and the YMCA to provide a range of supported housing options. These include provisions for single homeless men and women, young people aged 18-24 leaving care or unable to remain with families, and those who have formerly slept rough.
This project has been funded by Ipswich Borough Council in response to the ending of housing-related support previously provided by Suffolk County Council. It builds on the work of the successful Rough Sleeper Project that has supported hundreds of people away from rough sleeping in Ipswich since 2018.
Referrals for the new supported accommodation will be made by the Housing Options team for applicants in circumstances where someone is homeless or threatened with homelessness, and needs support to be able to sustain an independent home in the future.
Councillor Alasdair Ross, Ipswich Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing, says:
“Tackling and reducing homelessness and rough sleeping remain important issues for the Council and for the residents of Ipswich. Rough sleeping is the most visible and dangerous form of homelessness and the problems and needs affecting this group are complex.
“However, homelessness is an issue stretching wider than rough sleeping. Homelessness can affect anyone, including families and across all groups within society. Indeed, due to recent economic pressures many more households have found themselves experiencing difficulties and in need of our assistance.
“Our Housing Options team has successfully developed new schemes and projects such as this for helping vulnerable people, working with partner agencies who are vital to our success.”
The Council is committed to continue working with partners across Suffolk to deliver on its recently published Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy. Five key priorities within the strategy include providing a high-quality advice service, a focus on early prevention, working with partners to end rough sleeping, facilitating access to suitable accommodation, and building and maintaining partnerships that support residents.