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   Salford homeless policy announced
Salford Council has sent through the following press release, which hints at the Lancaster House closure (see video, below) but does not explicity say what will be closed. Support for homeless people in Salford is changing as the council approves a radical plan to transform the way services are run. The new model looks at improving supported accommodation for single homeless people by working with providers to better meet the needs of individuals. This means improved referrals and assessment processes and more support for people to access move-on accommodation or independent living. It also focuses on providing modern facilities and support to get people back into employment, training and education when they are ready. A new flagship project in Pendleton, funded by the Homes and Communities Agency and developed in partnership between the city council and the Salvation Army Housing Association, will help to provide services like this. Abbott House on Brindle Heath Road will open in October with £1.4m of the costs of the scheme secured through the Government’s ‘Places of Change’ project. Under Salford’s new model, its Housing and Support Services will work with providers to carry out assessments to ensure people are placed in the right accommodation with the appropriate level of support to help them break the cycle of homelessness. Salford has reviewed all supported accommodation for single homeless people that it provides through the Supporting People programme following Government cuts to its 2011/12 budget totalling £40m (17 per cent). It has carried out surveys to check the condition of buildings and levels of service at the six Supporting People projects in the city. Those projects that best meet the needs of individuals will continue to be financially supported by the council. Councillor Peter Connor, Salford City Council’s lead member for housing said: "Due to Government spending reductions we’ve had to cut council budgets by approximately £40 million in 2011/12, and will have to make further reductions over the next three years. "This has meant that the council has had to look even more critically at how a number of services, including those to the homeless, can be delivered in future years at less cost. "In light of this we have reviewed the whole ‘homeless’ sector, and working with partners have developed a new model for delivering support for single homeless people. This includes making a reduction in the number of traditional supported accommodation projects in which support is commissioned. "Our aim is to ensure that single homeless people spend less time in institutionalised settings and are enabled to move on positively to training, employment and settled homes within the community with appropriate levels of support. "The review of the homeless sector was never about one project, and it is unfortunate that it has been presented, by some, in this way. "We believe that the new service model will provide homeless people with a good service in the future." Image: Swinton Civic Centre Source: Salford Council
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