As the South West’s largest housing provider, we helped over 631 people move on to more permanent accommodation in the last year from a situation where they were previously experiencing homelessness.
We were quick to respond following the outbreak of Covid-19 answering the government’s call to help the homeless by partnering with local authorities and preparing some of its vacant homes for the most vulnerable people in society.
LiveWest’s Board Member Andrew Wiles said: “Although street homelessness is very visible, most homelessness is in fact invisible to the public eye – individual people, individual families through no fault of their own losing the struggle to find decent, secure & affordable accommodation for themselves.
“This is where most of our direct effort lies. The first focus of our contribution is on making our ordinary, or ‘general needs’, rented housing available to people and families who are homeless.
“Secondly, LiveWest provides a number of specialist support services which help people threatened with, or recently experiencing, homelessness - at any one time we offer support for over 1,000 such people that have been experiencing homelessness.
“Our work in combating homelessness is very much a partnership exercise - working with both our local authority partners and specialist organisations.
“A good example of this is the collaborative response to the Covid-19 pandemic – we have been an active participant in the programme known as ‘Everyone In’, aiming to get rough-sleepers off the streets and into temporary accommodation.”
At any one-time we offer support for over 1000 people that have been experiencing homelessness. We provide accommodation and specialist support and advice for individuals with diverse strengths, needs and aspirations, helping to develop confidence and resilience through a wide range of opportunities.
Jenny Endean, Young Person Service Development Manager at LiveWest, said: “LiveWest recognise that homelessness brings its own barriers and challenges but through opportunities offered things can change.
“I have seen a huge drive and commitment by our teams to challenge the convention of someone facing homelessness. Our accommodation and added support services ensure that people’s strengths are recognised, celebrated and built on
“We understand that homelessness is a moment in time, often due to circumstances beyond someone’s own control.
“We know some can see moving into supported accommodation as an embarrassing thing, but it shouldn’t be seen as that. For some it’s the right option at the right time, enabling them to get through a tough time.
“It’s really no different from moving back in with your parents or approaching the bank for a loan – we all need help at some point in our lives.
“For us homelessness doesn’t define you as a person or define your future. We want others to join with us in this way of thinking – that you are more than just homeless – you are talented, you are brave, you are resilient.”
We support customers to create a personalised action plan, including supporting people to access the benefits they are entitled to and manage their finances as well as providing tailored support and coaching to empower an individual’s progress. We also provide education, employability and healthy living skills that develop an individual’s potential.
We are asking others to follow their asset-based approach and to change the way they think about homelessness.
More than just a landlord, our teams provide services creating opportunities for customers to thrive from a platform from which individuals can pursue personal goals and improve their quality of life.