Adferiad Recovery is delighted to be working in partnership with Bridgend County Borough Council to deliver a specialist housing support system for people who have repeat histories of homelessness in the county.
Housing First was first introduced in Bridgend in 2019 and is a unique approach aimed at helping to tackle homelessness by supporting people with complex and multiple needs into settled and stable homes.
The service supports individuals experiencing homelessness to secure suitable accommodation as quickly as possible, then provides wraparound specialist support to help them have the best chance of maintaining that tenancy and avoid becoming homeless again. It is expected that the service will support and accommodate 10-15 individuals per year.
The coordinated and intensive support varies according to the individual’s needs which could involve alcohol and drug dependency, physical and mental health problems.
A three-year contract between Adferiad Recovery and the local authority will commence on 1st January 2022, replacing the existing Housing First service in Bridgend which is set to expire at the end of 2021, and will be funded by the council’s Housing Support Grant.
Adferiad Recovery Director Lisa Williams said: “We are delighted to be able to deliver the Housing First project and to make sure this fantastic service continues its work with some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
“Our aim is to achieve long-term, sustainable housing outcomes for entrenched rough sleepers who may face multiple disadvantages and have co-dependent support needs and we look forward to getting started in 2022.
“We want a Wales where nobody is homeless and everyone has a safe home where they can flourish and live a fulfilled, active and independent life.”
Bridgend Councillor Dhanisha Patel, Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Future Generations said: “This specialist service is key to our commitment to tackle homelessness across the county borough.
“Since it began, there have been some significant successes with a number of people who had previously been rough sleeping or unable to maintain accommodation, now maintaining their own tenancy.
“In continuing to provide the Housing First service, we are able to support some of our most vulnerable residents at a time when they need it most.”