SIX new homes have been made available to house residents living on the streets under a new programme from Newark and Sherwood District Council that is designed to support rough sleepers into independent living.

The Next Steps Accommodation Programme will ensure that rough sleepers have a place to stay and that no-one is forced to live on the streets in the district.

Each unit is self-contained and provides each individual with their own independent living space. Those occupying the accommodation will be part of a wider support programme and will remain at the accommodation until such time as they are able to move on to managing their own independent living arrangements, through the input and support from a dedicated support worker.

The council is working closely with local partners to find housing options with the aim to eliminate rough sleeping in the district in the future. This programme is one of many schemes outlined in the council’s Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeper Strategy 2019 – 2024 which outlines a range of measures to ensure homelessness becomes a thing of the past.

In March 2020, at the beginning of the first national lockdown, the government asked councils and housing authorities across the UK to find accommodation for all rough sleepers. The ‘Everyone In’ initiative was aimed at protecting vulnerable residents who were sleeping on the streets as well as minimising the spread of Covid-19.

Newark and Sherwood District Council found accommodation for all individuals who were or still are sleeping on the streets of local towns and villages to protect and keep them safe.

Coun David Lloyd, leader of the council, said: “We have to thank a number of local partners from across the district for actively supporting projects like this.

“We’ve been working with partners such as Nottinghamshire Police, DWP, the Frameworks Street Outreach team and many faith groups on several previous projects that have helped find safe accommodation for rough sleepers and the new units will help even more in the area.

“We’re committed to eliminating rough sleeping in the district and projects like this will help us to achieve our goal.”

Working with local partners at ‘The Well’, a drop in service for rough sleepers, the District Council is able to identify those who are most in need of accommodation.

The ‘Well,’ set up by individuals from Newark Baptist Church, was available every day, between 3.30pm and 4.30pm, from 16th November until 20th March, and provided a drop-in session for those who were homeless. Residents were able to access a hot meal, showering facilities and take away clean clothes.

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