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‘Homes for good’ - championing housing-led support
In the critical, initial months of COVID-19, hundreds of people were supported to stay
in college and hotel rooms across Oxford
city as part of the ‘Everybody In’ campaign, increasing individual safety and reducing virus transmission levels. During this time, Aspire’s housing team maintained contact with these clients, providing essential supplies, supporting
‘Everybody In’ showed that it is indeed possible to provide safety and security for those experiencing homelessness or sleeping rough. But a long-term solution to prevent a return to pre-pandemic levels of homelessness and housing instability in Oxfordshire is needed now. It shouldn’t take a pandemic
to force us to fix broken systems, so that we
Universal Credit applications and ensuring prevent people from losing their homes and digital provisions were in place. enable access to suitable housing.
SUPPORTED HOUSING
Working in partnership with Transition by Design, Nuffield College and employees from Bouygues volunteering through Team Oxford, we refurbished five empty houses in central Oxford to provide stable homes for up to thirty five people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic. Of the five properties, one house is dedicated to our Women’s Project, and another provided a COVID-secure night shelter for rough sleepers throughout the long winter months.
Once settled in their new homes, each individual has the space to feel safe, relax and build new relationships. They then work with Aspire to access the support they want and need - including wellbeing activities, drug and alcohol recovery, gaining skills, work experience, education or training, and working towards obtaining fulfilling, paid employment.
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