We are supporting Starts at Home Day to celebrate the positive impact supported housing has on thousands of lives.
The campaign, organised by the National Housing Federation, is designed to remind us that a decent home is essential for people who need society’s support to live independent and fulfilling lives.
We believe everyone should have equal opportunity and access to affordable, high-quality homes and support.
At LiveWest, we are celebrating the value of supported housing and the difference that having a safe and secure place to call home can make to people’s lives.
Our mission is to support people on their pathways towards independence by building safe, affordable homes and sustainable communities.
LiveWest supports over 1,800 customers at any one time in our supported housing services, providing services to younger people and older people, people with learning disabilities, adults and families, and services provided by other organisations in our properties.
David Davies, Head of Supported Housing for LiveWest, said: “It is fantastic to celebrate Starts at Home Day which focuses on ensuring people who need extra support always have a safe home that meets their needs and aspirations. This is something that we strive for at LiveWest and plays a central role in everything we do.
“We currently have more than 1,800 people living in our supported accommodation across the South West who are backed by our passionate and dedicated teams who put our customers at the heart of what we do."
We have a range of accommodation including a network of foyers and self-contained flats in the community across the South West, which support young people between the ages of 16 and 25 experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless.
We offer a range of accommodation for adults and families, either scheme- based or individual homes where our customers can prepare for the next step towards independent living.
David Davies added: “We offer both long-term and short-term accommodation options and services to meet different needs and this gives us an opportunity to recognise and celebrate these essential support services and the impact these have on people’s lives.
“The Starts at Home Campaign is important in showcasing the sector’s fantastic work.”
Our Extra Care schemes provide homes across four schemes from Plymouth to Bath. These are for older people who need some level of care, which is delivered by an on-site care and support provider.
We work closely with specialist support and care providers in our accommodation for customers with a learning disability, enabling them to maintain independence.
Amongst our highlights over the past year was the completion of our £2m investment in Bristol Foyer to provide a rejuvenated space for young people between the ages of 16 and 25.
A range of internal works refurbished the inside of the foyer, including replacing all the windows to provide a more energy-efficient building.
We are providing homes for at least 60 military veterans across Devon as part of a targeted programme to tackle the issue of homelessness.
With funding from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA), the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust has awarded £995,000 to LiveWest under the Reducing Veterans' Homelessness Programme.
The money is being used to support our New Seasons Veterans Supported Housing Project – a two-year project based in Devon working closely with Operation FORTITUDE to help end veteran homelessness in the UK.
