Changing Lives Homeless Response service has been supporting people experiencing homelessness for several years now. What does a typical day in the service look like though?
Staff start the day on active outreach at 6.30am. Alerts through StreetLink (often from kind members of the public) or referrals from the local authority come directly to the team who will then plan a route to search the borough of North Tyneside & Northumberland.
Staff will offer friendly contact, providing practical support such as water and food as well as information, advice and guidance to find housing solutions. As many of our colleagues in other projects will appreciate, it is often not as simple as just getting someone a house! Often the people we come across have experiences of trauma, mental and physical health concerns, relationship breakdowns, addiction and feelings of overwhelm to the point of feeling hopeless.
Staff then record our findings and make the appropriate enquiries and referrals to the organisations that can offer the right next steps. Like all Changing Lives projects, we are passionate about offering holistic, joined-up support and that often means calling in the experts!
We have spent a lot of time building up links in the North Tyneside & Northumberland communities with medical professionals, social workers, the local addiction service (NTRP), food banks and social housing associations.
We also regularly meet with North Tyneside & Northumberland Council (who commission our services) to update them on the state of our streets. Collaboration is key to our continued success!
Another aspect of our role is supporting people in six single occupancy properties known as SSTS (Safe Space to Stay). This offers people in very challenging situations a chance to have a roof over their head for the first time in a long time. The properties are fully furnished and staff offer at least one session a week of support that includes looking for a move on property. We will accompany people to other appointments, make enquiries on their behalf, apply for funding or source practical support.
If you want to support the work we do at Changing Lives, please consider donating to support us.
