Off the Streets and into Work (OSW) - Transitional Spaces Project (TSP)
This is a very broad-based partnership and part of a Treasury funded Invest to Save Bid (ISB). The Government sponsoring department is the CLG, and the DWP is deeply involved, offering to house the project team within the Job Centre Plus homelessness unit.
There are three interlocking objectives:
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Tackling endemic worklessness and inactivity in hostels by creating more effective pathways into employment, using a 'work first' approach, turning hostels into transitional spaces;
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Reducing the costs to the Treasury of providing benefits to people who have the potential to work, but who may need a way around the benefits trap caused by high hostel rents;
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Reducing the silt-up crisis in homelessness hostels by increasing the effective use of the PRS as move-on accommodation.
The methodology will involve identifying and assisting hostel residents with very low or no support needs, who are highly motivated, to gain employment first and then to find PRS accommodation. They will be provided with a series of incentives that will mean that they will not lose all of the financial advantage of working to benefits. With these incentives they will be able to build up savings for a rent deposit and other moving/set-up costs whilst in the hostel, as well as having additional spending money.
As well as CLG and DWP, key partners in the project include:
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Broadway and Threshold Housing Advice, each of which will be involved in accessing PRS accommodation for those moving on from hostels;
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The Pan-London Providers Group (PLPG), a consortium of seven of the largest hostel providers in London;
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Business Action on Homelessness; and
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SAFE at Toynbee Hall.
Broadway and Threshold Housing Advice will both be involved in sourcing PRS accommodation, preparing the tenants, providing property management for the landlords (where required) and identifying and securing/providing continuing support under Supporting People, if required. There will be a range of other support, including financial literacy and training from SAFE at Toynbee Hall. Elements of support and guarantees to landlords are included, as well as safety net provision for tenants. The PLPG will act to tackle the culture in their hostels that often militates against using the PRS.
The proposal seeks to change policy and practice at the national level, providing an alternative route away from the extremely strong connection between hostels, unemployment and continuing dependency.
The outline proposes that ISB funding will focus on meeting objectives one and two, while the Foundation's funding will focus on objective three.
The Foundation has approved a total of £460,000 over four years, out of a total project cost of £2.5 million (which also covers the cost of running the scheme in Tyneside, which the Foundation is not funding). Outcome targets are for 225 people in London rehoused from hostels into the PRS (and employed) during the three years, but the most significant target is to change policy so that benefits and hostel culture are no longer a major barrier for homeless people to move into employment and the PRS.
Further information
www.osw.org.uk/services/tsp.asp