Mansfield District Council is enhancing its commitment to helping rough sleepers off the streets with the introduction of a dedicated new team and the expansion of its homelessness support services. The initiative aims to provide intensive, person-centred assistance to individuals with a history of homelessness and rough sleeping.
A key development is the opening of a new dedicated office for the Housing First project. This new facility is located within a repurposed block of flats that have been allocated to individuals who have previously experienced homelessness. This setup is designed to help residents sustain their tenancies, integrate into the community, and receive the necessary support to rebuild their lives.
Cllr Anne Callaghan, Portfolio Holder for Housing at Mansfield District Council, emphasised the council's dedication: “We recognise the need to support rough sleepers and homeless people and re-house them for whatever issues they have. Our aim is not to hide rough sleepers or homelessness, but to support them going forward and make sure they can have a secure home long-term. We want everyone to know that there is a route off the streets for all rough sleepers in Mansfield.”
In addition to supporting residents within the new flats, the team provides assistance to 12 other Mansfield District Council tenants who have faced long-term homelessness and rough sleeping, often with multiple and complex support needs.
While the Housing First project has been operational for approximately six years, the council has now assumed full management of the initiative, previously overseen by external contractors.
Jill Finnesey, Assistant Director of Housing at Mansfield District Council, highlighted the project's unique approach: “Housing First is different, and it’s the only one of its kind in Nottinghamshire currently. It’s about offering rough sleepers and homeless people that tailored support to help them rebuild their lives, and we know it works. This is the sixth year that the project has been running, and we have seen how it has really turned around the lives of some of our rough sleepers.”
Individuals receiving support through the project may also be dealing with issues such as trauma, abuse, violence, and 'cuckooing'—a situation where a person's home is exploited by others for criminal activities like drug dealing or anti-social behaviour.
Louise Kenworthy, the project manager for Housing First at Mansfield District Council, elaborated on the project's broader aims: “Housing First is about so much more than sustaining a tenancy. It’s about creating safety, building trust, restoring choice, growing resilience, and helping people to move forward towards their aims and goals. The approach recognises that people don’t have to prove they are ready for a home before they can have one. Already, the team has supported a client experiencing cuckooing, supported another client who had to flee their home because of threats of violence, and responded with compassion and professionalism to multiple disclosures of trauma and abuse.”
For further information on homelessness support services offered by Mansfield District Council, please visit: https://www.mansfield.gov.uk/homelessness-housing-advice/homelessness-2
