VIP guests visit lifeline supported housing scheme
VIP guests visited a ‘lifeline’ supported housing service for single homeless people and homeless families in Hastings.
MP for Hastings and Rye Amber Rudd, Mayor of Hastings Kim Forward and local councillors dropped into Priory Avenue for an open day and table top sale to promote awareness of the scheme, which is run by leading supported housing provider Sanctuary Carr-Gomm.
The event, which took place on Friday 10th December was organised as part of South East Supported Housing Month, which aims to raise awareness of the crucial work that supported housing services do to help vulnerable people – enabling them to enjoy independent and fulfilled lives.
The scheme’s manager Fiona Knight said: “We are immensely proud of our scheme and were thrilled to show the people of Hastings the excellent service we provide. The day was the perfect opportunity for the guests to meet our current residents and see first-hand what an important role we have to play in the community.
“Priory Avenue offers a unique lifeline service to homeless people in Hastings. We are dedicated to providing accommodation and support services which help single homeless people and homeless families to get their lives back on track. We pride ourselves on helping people to develop the life skills and confidence they need to support themselves financially and emotionally in their own accommodation; this can include help accessing education, training and employment opportunities.”
MP Amber Rudd added: “It was a pleasure to see around the Priory Avenue supportive housing scheme on Friday. I was impressed to see not only the standard of the rooms and facilities but also the kind and caring attitude of the staff. We are very lucky to have this service in Hastings.”
There was also a table top sale to raise funds for the scheme’s Moving on Moving Up group, which helps to boost the skills and confidence of former and current residents with activities such as art classes. In addition the group accesses funding to provide opportunities to access social events, training and skill building courses like cookery classes. Members of the group sold greetings cards and a children’s book which they have funded and produced themselves.”
South East Supported Housing Month is part of the National Housing Federation’s campaign to raise awareness of the 2,700 crucial services provided by a variety of organisations throughout the South East that help over 136,000 vulnerable people.
Raife West, Chair of the National Housing Federation’s South East Supported Housing Regional Interest Group commented: “South East Supported Housing Month kicks off on 15 November and runs until 10 December this year and is an excellent opportunity for providers to join forces in the South East and highlight the contribution supported housing and support services make in the region.”