Six new homes made available for homeless in New Steps Accommodation Programme by Newark and Sherwood District Council
Six new homes have been made available for the homeless in Newark and Sherwood under a new programme designed to help rough sleepers into independent living.
Each house is self-contained and provides independent living space.
Those using the accommodation will be part of a wider support programme and will stay at the unit until they can move on to managing their own living arrangements.
The Next Steps Accommodation Programme, run by Newark and Sherwood District Council, will see people moving in from this month.
It is one of many measures outlined in the council’s Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeper Strategy 2019 to 2024.
In March 2020, at the start of the first national lockdown, the government asked councils and housing authorities to find accommodation for all rough sleepers. The Everyone In initiative aimed to protect vulnerable residents sleeping on the streets as well as minimising the spread of covid-19.
The district council found accommodation for all individuals sleeping on the streets of towns and villages.
Council leader David Lloyd said: “We have to thank a number of local partners from across the district for actively supporting projects like this.
“We have been working with partners such as Nottinghamshire Police, DWP, the Frameworks Street Outreach team and many faith groups on several previous projects that have helped find safe accommodation for rough sleepers and the new units will help even more in the area.
“We are committed to eliminating rough sleeping in the district and projects like this will help us to achieve our goal.”
Working with partners at The Well — a drop-in service for rough sleepers at Newark Baptist Church, Albert Street — the council identified those in most need of accommodation.
The Well was available every day from November 16 to March 20.
A hot takeaway meal is still available from IM-PACT on Mondays, 3.30pm to 4.30pm, as well as from Open Kitchen on Thursdays, noon to 1pm, at Newark Baptist Church.
