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Creative approaches to preventing homelessness Monday 15 May #crisisconf

Margaret-Ann Brunjes, (Chair) Director of Glasgow Homelessness Network Welcome Margaret-Ann Brunjes, (Chair) Director of Glasgow Homelessness Network

Panellists Samantha Dorney-Smith, Senior Nursing Fellow, Pathways, Linda Gibb, DWP Edinburgh Debbie Alexander, Service Manager, CHAP, Ayrshire Diane Marr, Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution

ESES Homelessness Strategy Linda Gibb Customer Service Leader Edinburgh

ESES Homelessness Strategy District Lead Work Coach Customer Providers Cluster Lead Office Lead Service Delivery Providers

Edinburgh Homelessness Strategy DWP Strategy: Increasing our awareness and understanding of homelessness issues by engaging and working with all partners and providers- Continuing to build Work Coach knowledge and capability -Ensuring that we identify claimants needs at the earliest opportunity- Preventing homelessness where possible - Making appropriate use of easements-Referring to sources of support and provision-Monitoring our activity-Improving the individual customer journey DWP Key Roles: Homelessness Leads - Service Delivery Team Leaders - Work Coaches CEC: Housing Options Team DWP Engagement: Partner Forums, Working Groups, Events, Partnerships, Partners, providers, Awareness Visits, Community 10,000 Provider: The Rock Trust Provider: Crisis Skylight CEC: The Access Point Housing, Social Work and Health (Access to Hostels) Provider: Shelter Scotland DWP Awareness: Visits, Community 10,000 Placements, Instructions, DPT, Work Coach Digital Aide, Websites, Leaflets Provider: Streetwork CEC: Out of Hours Service Provider: Armed Services Advice Project CEC: Neighbourhood Support Service Provider: Bethany Christian Trust DWP Monitoring: Monthly MI Provider: Freshstart Providers: Homeless Prevention Service (South/East) – Cyrenians, Penumbra, Health in Mind, CHAI, Crossreach, CEC DWP Partnership: DWP/DTTO Initiative DWP, DTTO, NHS Lothian Provider: Salvation Army DWP Partnership: Benefit Cap Partnership DWP, CEC, Partners, Providers Provider: Home owners’ Support Fund Providers: Edinburgh Crisis Centre – CEC, NHS Lothian, Penumbra, Edinburgh Carers Council, Edinburgh Crisis Centre Users Providers: Edinburgh Housing Advice Partnership – CHAI, Granton Information Centre, Foursquare, Move On, Changeworks DWP Partnership: Benefit Cap Working Group (Lone Parents) DWP,CEC, OPFS, Making it Work

DEBBIE ALEXANDER SERVICES MANAGER

OVERVIEW OF CHAP Established in 1997 Provides a variety of services across Ayrshire in regard to the prevention of homelessness Also able to offer advice and assistance on welfare rights and debt issues

EDUCATION SERVICE Delivering a Programme of homelessness education workshops to young people across North Ayrshire Delivered since 2005 Service Level Agreement with North Ayrshire Council Number of young people who have received input since start of project - 23,283 

AIMS OF EDUCATION WORKSHOPS To prevent youth homelessness Raise awareness of the reality of homelessness To destigmatise the issue of homelessness It is intended that the lessons will encourage young people to carefully consider their options before taking the decision to leave home and to enable them to identify who would be able to assist them with housing issues.

ALTERNATIVE CURRICULUM YOUTH GROUPS STUDENT ACCOMMODATION SERVICES PROVIDED PSE ALTERNATIVE CURRICULUM YOUTH GROUPS STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

OVERVIEW OF WORKSHOPS A general overview of the severity of homelessness in North Ayrshire An interactive DVD to raise awareness of the reality of homelessness Activities which aim to show that homelessness can happen to anyone and can occur for a variety of reasons A brief overview of housing options available to young people Examples of weekly budgets which highlight how challenging managing money can be and the financial reality of leaving home

Interactive activities/games/quizzes METHODS OF DELIVERY Interactive activities/games/quizzes CHAP adapt workshops to meet the needs of the young people in the identified group (i.e. using visual aids to reduce the need for reading and writing) The direct work with the young people is complimented by the youth website which CHAP have developed. The website provides young people with a way of retrieving information and advice on various issues surrounding homelessness and leaving home.

EVALUATION All young people who have received input are asked to complete an evaluation form Teachers and group leaders are also asked to provide feedback Independent evaluation carried out annually by the North Ayrshire Youth Council Workshops and resources are developed continuously as a result of feedback

FEEDBACK FROM YOUNG PEOPLE From all the young people that the project has worked with since 2005, 96% have conveyed that they found the sessions useful As well as enjoying the sessions, 95% of the young people have indicated that they would consider leaving home more carefully as a result of CHAP’s input “It’s much harder to stay in my own house by myself than I originally thought” ”I learned that homelessness can happen at anytime, anywhere and to anyone”

FEEDBACK FROM SCHOOLS/YOUTH GROUPS “Excellently led programme that keeps pupils interested and hopefully be beneficial in the future” “Course delivered in a pupil centred way. All encouraged to participate” “An excellent programme educating young people about the realities of leaving home” “The talks the school have from CHAP are both entertaining and interesting. The pupils react very positively during these sessions and are always keen to get involved with the lessons”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: DEBBIE ALEXANDER Services Manager 01294 475631 servicesmanager.chap@gmail.com www.chap.org.uk www. chap-at-the-door.org.uk

Margaret-Ann Brunjes, (Chair) Director of Glasgow Homelessness Network Interactive session Margaret-Ann Brunjes, (Chair) Director of Glasgow Homelessness Network

Questions for discussion on tables Do you have any reflections on the examples you’ve just heard?  What works or could work in your area? What services are likely to encounter people who are at risk of homelessness but who haven’t yet reached crisis point? How might they gather this information? What action can be taken at this early stage to prevent these people becoming homeless?  Who should be responsible for this and how would we make sure it happens?

Feedback / Q & A