Project helping homeless ex-cons supported by Evolve housing association to help rough sleepers
A project helping people coming out of prison, to prevent them from having to sleep rough, has been supported by a housing association.
Evolve Housing staff will work with organisations across Croydon and the prison system to enable street sleepers to find housing, thanks to a £45,000 grant from Croydon council.
Evolve houses more than 2,000 people every year, delivering one to one support to help people who would otherwise be homeless.
The charity helps its beneficiaries to rebuild their lives and give them the skills they need to be able to move on from its services and live independently.
Councillor Alison Butler, Croydon council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for homes and Gateway services, said: “The council’s Gateway service already works closely with partners such as Evolve to not just tackle homelessness but also prevent it.
“Last year, our outreach services helped 70 rough sleepers with a history of being in prison, so this £45,000 funding will allow Evolve to give vulnerable prison leavers more support and from an earlier stage.”
Debra Ives, director of operations at Evolve said: “We are really pleased to be able to deliver this service in Croydon, it is much needed and will have an impact on the number of people who are able to go on to lead settled lives and avoid homelessness or re-offending.”
The £45,000 funding is part of a £622,000 grant given to Croydon council’s Gateway service by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to offer vulnerable homeless people a bed, wraparound support and help into settled, permanent accommodation through a 24-hour, 365-day hub opening this winter.
Evolve is currently recruiting for this role. For more information about what they do and more details about the role, visit www.evolvehousing.org.uk
Everyone at the South London Press thanks you for your continued support.
Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has encouraged everyone in the country who can afford to do so to buy a newspaper, and told the Downing Street press briefing:
“A FREE COUNTRY NEEDS A FREE PRESS, AND THE NEWSPAPERS OF OUR COUNTRY ARE UNDER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PRESSURE”
If you can afford to do so, we would be so grateful if you can make a donation which will allow us to continue to bring stories to you, both in print and online. Or please make cheques payable to “MSI Media Limited” and send by post to South London Press, Unit 112, 160 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2NZ
I live in Evolve Housing and Support. Im 17 years old. We are forced to pay 1k a month or we are kicked out. The building is falling apart and there are pests and mould throughout every room. Staff are racist and rude to all of the customers, one staff member telling a suicidal homeless autistic woman to kill themselves. If Evolve gets these grants why are we forced to pay so much for a room that can barely fit furniture in it and bathrooms that dont even work properly .