Agenda item

Communications

To consider any communications to be submitted by the Mayor or the Chief Executive.

Minutes:

Shared Lives in the Prevention of Homelessness

 

The Chief Executive informed Members of the Council that in April 2019 a new pilot scheme had been launched under the Shared Lives offer to work collaboratively with the Council’s Housing Options Team (the Team who supported people who were, or at risk of becoming homeless).  The pilot aimed to offer an alternative to out of area bed and breakfast and instead offer up to twelve weeks support in the Shared Lives Service in Barnsley, a more personalised, family based approach.  This was the first time nationally that Shared Lives had been developed to support homelessness.

 

The Service now supported adults to rebuild their lives by offering housing-related support which included applications to landlords, bidding on properties and preparing to move on.  It also gave support with ongoing health issues, budgeting and social isolation.  So far, 8 people had been supported by the scheme to get their lives back on track.

 

This innovative approach had received some fabulous recognition at the Shared Lives Plus Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony recently when it had received the Scheme Innovation Award for 2019.

 

The following staff from the Shared Lives and Housing Options Team were in the Council Chamber this morning:

 

·         Lee Hardman (Senior Shared Lives Officer)

·         Angela Beaumont (Shared Lives Officer)

·         Steven Ellis (Shared Lives Officer)

·         Rachel Burgon (Housing Advisor)

 

The Chief Executive thanked all members of the Team for the fabulous work they had done.

 

Councillor Platts (Cabinet Spokesperson for Adults and Communities) also asked to add her thanks to the Shared Lives Team.  In addition she also thanked the Shared Lives Carers across the borough all of whom did a some fantastic work with vulnerable and homeless people.  The Mayor also offered her own congratulations to the staff from the Shared Lives Team.

 

The Mayor and Members of the Council expressed their thanks and congratulations to all concerned in the usual manner.

 

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