Ready, Steady, Rent! sessions to help break the cycle of homelessness
Pictured at the launch are left to right, Naome Kormanszki; Elizabeth Ling, The Stone Foundation training lead; Richard Winch, Mid Suffolk Cabinet member for housing; Stephanie Lloyd, Central Suffolk Lettings (CSL) team manager; Anne Bennett chief executive officer, The Stone Foundation; and Mark Avery, CSL tenancy management officer. Photo: Lucy Taylor Photography/ Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils.
Dozens of people in temporary accommodation in Babergh and Mid Suffolk will be helped to break the cycle of homelessness thanks to a new training scheme.
Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils’ Housing Solutions service has partnered with The Stone Foundation to offer interactive learning sessions to potential tenants, helping to build their confidence and skills around basic domestic maintenance, budgeting and the every day responsibilities of a home.
The training program “Ready, Steady, Rent!” launched last week, helping households currently in temporary accommodation to move on to homes in the private or social rented sector.
The initiative aims to help develop the skills needed to maintain a new tenancy and navigate the responsibilities needed to successfully run a home, long term. This includes helping participants to reduce personal debt (including rent arrears), increase confidence and awareness of who to ask if they need support.
The interactive course is delivered over two days, in small non-classroom settings.
Ten sessions are planned over the next 12 months, helping up to six residents each time, with places offered to those currently living in temporary accommodation or on the Central Suffolk Lettings rent guarantee scheme.
Jessie Carter, Babergh District Council cabinet member for Housing, said: “The responsibility of running a home for the first time can often feel overwhelming. Partnering with The Stone Foundation enables us to offer our residents a helping hand in taking steps into the next stage in their housing journey with the tools and skills they need to succeed.”
Richard Winch, Mid Suffolk District Council cabinet member for Housing and Property, added: “We are thrilled to be able to offer this additional resource to our residents. Losing your home and having to hit the restart button can shake a person’s confidence. This initiative can offer some practical skills and knowledge to better navigate running a home and its challenges.”
Rob Morris, chair of the Trustees of The Stone Foundation, said: “Clearly, there are many reasons why people are unable to sustain a tenancy but lack of knowledge and understanding and/or emotional distress or immaturity undoubtedly have a huge impact. We are therefore delighted to be working in partnership with Babergh and Mid Suffolk Councils to deliver our pre-tenancy training course.
“We look forward to delivering on some of our joint objectives and equip individuals considered ‘At Risk or Disadvantage’ to develop the skills and competencies associated with independent living and the confidence to succeed.”