“Nobody should be forced to sleep on the streets” – £1.2m Salford homeless housing scheme opens

Eight one-bedroom flats have been developed at Milton Avenue in the Irlam area of Salford by ForHousing.

New tenants will be offered ‘wrap-around support’ from ForHousing in partnership with Salford City Council, to give them the best chance of rebuilding their lives and sustaining their tenancy.

£1.2 Million Housing Scheme for Rough Sleepers Completed in Salford

This includes high-level support with setting up bills, paying rent, drug and alcohol support, employment, volunteering, and training.

Tenancies for the homes are for a maximum of three years so that support continues to be available for other rough sleepers for many years to come.

ForHousing’s Supportive Housing Initiative at Milton Avenue

In addition to the eight flats ForHousing has also built a three-bedroom house on the site,

The eight apartments are part of the Government’s Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme (RSAP) and are supported by more than £550,000 of Homes England funding.

The Government’s £433m RSAP was launched in 2020 with the aim of delivering up to 6,000 homes for rough sleepers and bringing forward accommodation to help tackle rough sleeping in the long term.

Salford’s Deputy Mayor on Homelessness

Salford’s deputy city mayor and lead member for housing, property and regeneration Coun Tracy Kelly said: “It is great news to see these eight new homes for people at risk of rough sleeping are now ready. The cost-of-living crisis is making it very difficult for lots of people and families in this city, but nobody should be forced to sleep on the streets.

“The home will make such a difference to the lives of the people who move into them, and the wrap-around care provided should give the residents the vital care, support and opportunities they need. I wish them all the very best for the future.”

ForHousing chief executive Mike Parkin added: “In the wake of the current economic crisis, homelessness is sadly on the rise.

“We believe everyone deserves a safe place to call home. That’s why we’re really pleased to see people who were homeless making a fresh start in these new homes on Milton Avenue.”

ForHousing and its contractor PLP Construction Ltd, which delivered the Milton Avenue scheme, have already broken ground on its following site with a second scheme going through planning.

A further eight one-bedroom homes through RSAP have started on-site in Pendlebury, Swinton and a further six homes in Eccles are currently going through the planning process. ForHousing has invested close to £2m in these developments.

To date, the landlord has developed eight new homes and refurbished 16 flats in Salford thanks to RSAP and Next Steps Accommodation Programme (NSAP) funding, and in total, ForHousing has invested £3.6m into these homes.

NSAP is a government funding initiative, separate to RSAP, for schemes focused on preventing people who were sleeping rough and given temporary accommodation during the COVID-19 pandemic, from returning to the streets.