Canaan Trust Female House Project
1
The Pitch
Problem statement
“Women experiencing homelessness are living in a state of survival often in high-risk environments where they are frequently subjected to violence or abuse” – University of York Centre for Housing Policy. Shelter have demonstrated that 60% of homeless adults in temporary accommodation are women despite them making up 51% of the general population. Domestic abuse and other forms of gender-based violence are near universal experiences for women experiencing homelessness. 23% of all recorded crime in Derbyshire relates to domestic violence. In the past 20 months the Trust has safeguarded and supported 94 individual females out across the Community as they reached out for help in their crisis
Solution
The Trust has purchased an additional property which it seeks to convert to become a home for 9 homeless females, staffed 24-7, 365 delivering the same Gold Standard level of support and care (95% success rate) which has proven successful in its male services over the past 25 years. The Local Authority have approved the plans and the work is ready to commence. There is no dedicated female only house providing supported accommodation for homeless females across the area. The Trust has raised a substantive percentage of the funding required to undertake the works. The Trust is now actively seeking to source additional grant funding to assist address the shortfall.
Why are we best placed to deliver?
The Canaan Trust has delivered supported accommodation to homeless males for over 25 years with a 95% success rate enabling each unique individual to rebuild their lives successfully moving on to achieve independent living back in the community. The local authorities which work with the Trust consider the Trust represents the ‘Gold Standard’ of service and care. The Trust is a valued partner of the statutory agencies – local authority homeless services, social care, DWP, NHS services, probation, prison services regularly receiving referrals and requests for help with cases. In the last 24 months the Trust has safeguarded and supported 94 individual females in need.
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| Cost of 10 heavy duty reinforced metal beds (£200 per unit) | £2,000 |
Beneficiaries
20 people
Who will benefit
Expected impact
The Canaan Trust holistic person centre support empowering each individual beneficiary to address the issues which have contributed to their homelessness supporting the beneficiaries to rebuild their lives. The objective is to support each unique beneficiary to achieve independent living back in the Community.The Trust’s support transcends beyond the beneficiary’s physical needs seeking to help the beneficiary to identify and address the often complex issues which have contributed to their homelessness. The Trust seeks to support the beneficiary to address emotional/mental health hurts and issues as well as their physical needs. It is only in supporting each beneficiary to rebuild their lives in a truly holistic manner that an individual is empowered to achieve sustainable independent living.The holistic approach extends to supporting and facilitating primary beneficiaries to rebuild their relationships with children, family, social and employment networks (secondary beneficiaries).
Track record
The Canaan Trust has supported homeless individuals to rebuild their lives since 2004. In time the Trust has assisted many 1000s of primary beneficiaries and 1000s of secondary beneficiaries – children and family previously cut off or estranged from the primary beneficiary. The local authority deems the Trust as the prime example of the Gold Standard Service providing for who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless. The Trust ‘listens’ to the needs of those who present seeking its support and help. The Trust seeks to build a trusting relationship based on mutual respect. Once a beneficiary recognises that they are heard, trusted and respected the foundation is created from which to journey together, openly and honestly, acknowledging and addressing the often complex issues being faced by the beneficiary. Mutual respect and trust enables the Trust to challenge and support the beneficiary to rebuild their lives. The Trust has a proud record of 95% success in rebuilding lives.