Member Article

Newcastle MP backs supported housing campaign

A North East MP has pledged his support to a national campaign highlighting the benefits of supported housing in our region.

North East housing provider, Tyne Housing Association joined other registered social landlords across the country last week as part of the launch for the ‘Starts at Home’ campaign, which celebrates supported housing and aims to persuade the Government to continue to fund these vital services now and in the future.

As part of the campaign, Tyne Housing Association which has provided supported housing and day services to vulnerable people across Tyneside and Northumberland, wrote to local MP, Rt. Hon Nick Brown asking him for his support to champion supported housing in Parliament.

He accepted and said: “I support Tyne Housing Association and the ‘Starts at Home’ campaign to raise awareness of supported housing and the important role it fulfils. Supported Housing is a lifeline for many older and vulnerable people, however the Government currently has plans to cut the funding it provides to supported schemes. I have challenged the Government on this in Parliament and continue to press for a reversal of these damaging proposals.”

The ‘Starts at Home’ campaign celebrates supported housing and tells the stories of people in communities across the country who have gained independence or rebuilt their confidence through these vital services proved with a safe and secure home, including sheltered accommodation, refuges for women fleeing domestic violence, shelters and supported homes for those at risk of homelessness, and supported housing for vulnerable young people and adults with disabilities.

Ian Johnson, Chief Executive of THA, said: “I am really pleased that Nick Brown MP is behind this campaign. It is important we get as many people as possible to come forward and help us to raise awareness of the importance this service and the positive impact it has had on vulnerable people in our region.

“We have provided supported housing services to vulnerable people in our region since 1973 and many local people have benefitted from the support and service we have delivered. We have lots of really positive, good news stories of people who have come to us, received help and then gone on to live independently in their own homes and we’ll be highlighting many different case studies and success stories over the coming weeks as part of this campaign.”

The ‘Starts at Home’ campaign was launched last Thursday (September 1) and is an initiative spearheaded by the National Housing Federation – the national voice for affordable housing in England.

David Orr, Chief Executive at the National Housing Federation said: “Supported housing provides a safe and secure home that helps people to live independently and to achieve their aspirations. That’s why we launched the ‘Starts at Homes’ campaign to celebrate the good work done by so many in the supported housing sector, and show the Government why it’s such a crucial part of the housing fabric.”

For more information on the ‘Starts at Home’ campaign, please visit www.startsathome.org.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Up North Communications .