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Single homeless people are the least priority for local authorities and yet the simplest to help. If allowed to remain homeless for too long they develop other problems that will making helping them much more complicated. Two Step has assisted the single homeless to access accommodation in the Private Rented Sector for over 16 years. This can be a quick intervention in their lives. In that time 3,300 single homeless people have been housed in this way.

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Categories

  • Homeless/Refuge Homeless/​Refuge
  • Human Rights/Advocacy Human Rights/​Advocacy
  • Beneficiaries

    • Older People Older People
    • Women & Girls Women & Girls
    • Other Other

    Situation

    Two Step provides the following pathway out of homelessness: 1. Individuals are referred to Two Step by day centres, hostels and outreach services. In the last 12 months we have received 375 referrals from agencies in Westminster alone. 2. They are interviewed by Two Step staff to check their suitability for the programme, and to start the search for suitable accommodation within the Private Rented Sector. Two Step has access to an existing and growing pool of landlords who can provide this. 3. If required, the clients are offered emergency accommodation with volunteer Stopover hosts for 1 or 2 nights at a time to cover a period between being taken onto the programme and finding suitable accommodation. 4. Once suitable accommodation is found Two Step will advise the client on ways to raise any required deposit. This can include access to Two Step’s own funds if no other options are available. 5. Two Step can assist, if needed, with applications for Housing Benefit. 6. Once housed, Two Step offers clients the chance to enroll in the MBF-accredited Moving On. This is a mentoring scheme where ex-homeless clients are matched with a trained mentor who will assist them in achieving a goal, which they set for themselves during the course of bi-weekly meetings over a 6 month period. 7. Two Step workers get involved where there are difficulties during the initial tenancy to minimise repeat homelessness. This involves form filling and advocating to statutory agencies (benefits etc) and other support accessing services they are entitled to. It costs over £120,000 to run Two Step and Moving On each year.

    Solution

    100%
    Categories

  • Homeless/Refuge Homeless/​Refuge
  • Human Rights/Advocacy Human Rights/​Advocacy
  • Beneficiaries

    • Older People Older People
    • Women & Girls Women & Girls
    • Other Other