OUR SERVICES

TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION & RESETTLEMENT

Service Statement

The Blenheim Project's temporary accommodation service is a short-term service which aims to enable women with and without children to move into appropriate permanent tenancies within the community. We also empower women to take control of their own lives and develop the capacity to live independently in the community.

The aim of the service is to offer support to women and children to enable them to achieve this objective. Whilst the service does not specifically provide specialist counselling services women can be sign posted to relevant agencies. The primary client group is women suffering domestic violence and homeless families with support needs.

The service links into the Homelessness Strategy for Bradford in working to reduce the number of homeless women in Bradford.

THE PURLIN PROJECT

Service Statement

The Purlin Project tenancy support scheme is a short term service which aims to enable women with and without children, to successfully maintain their tenancy; establish themselves independently in the community and prevent further periods of homelessness.

To empower women to take control of their own lives; successfully maintain their tenancy preventing further periods of homelessness and live independently in the community. The aim of the service is to offer support to women to enable them to achieve this objective. Whilst the service does not specifically provide specialist counselling services women can be sign posted to relevant agencies. The primary client group is homeless families with support needs and Black and Ethnic minority women suffering domestic violence.

The service links into the Homelessness Strategy for Bradford in working to reduce the number of homeless women in Bradford.

ANNESLEY UNIT

 Service Information

The Blenheim Project has offered a service to homeless women for over 28 years and throughout this time it as been observed that there is a lack of appropriate accommodation for the many vulnerable women who are living in hostels such as the Blenheim Project. Hostel accommodation is by its very nature short term and often inappropriate for women who are vulnerable and susceptible to bullying and intimidation. Many of these women are fleeing domestic violence and there are no specific services geared to this group needs.

The Project has accommodated numerous women over the years who have often been inappropriately re-housed into general needs stock, due to the lack of adequate provision. Blenheim has always striven hard to secure housing that will address the individual woman's needs; but the level of provision available without statutory involvement is minimal.

These women have higher support needs but do not fit into a 'named' category that would allow them to access services from the Mental Health teams or Social Services. Therefore this organisation has secured funding from Methodist sources to set up a dispersed unit which would be made available to women who 'slip through the net' of these statutory services.

In light of the above, after working with various registered social landlords we have now secured an appropriate property and are in the process of setting up an independent living unit providing an intensive package of support. In line with good practice women will work to a Support Plan which will examine short, medium and long term goals with a view to equipping women with the necessary skills to move onto independent living. At all times to focus the support towards individual need, looking at budgeting, cooking, hygiene, training courses and confidence building etc.

Through negotiations with Accent Homes Limited agreement has been reached for this organisation to manage a dispersed unit in the Girlington area for this purpose. This organisation will manage the rent and subsequent costs.

The aim of the scheme is to provide a safe learning environment to empower women to have the independent living skills to move into and maintain their own tenancy with the continued support of this organisations tenancy support scheme (Purlin Project) team if necessary.