The programme has recruited more staff, who will be based across the city region, and will work with more than 200 homeless people over the next 18 months.

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:

“Over the past decade we have seen a dramatic increase in homelessness and rough sleeping as a decade of austerity has stripped away many of the safety nets that people and councils could rely on. We’re piloting Housing First to radically change the way that we help rough sleepers in our region.

“Instead of treating people as statistics or targets to be met, Housing First treats people as human beings. By offering somewhere to live first, we’re able to clarify the wraparound support people need to address their other issues. If we’re successful, we could radically change the way this country views and helps people who are homeless.”

Councillor Graham Morgan, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Spatial Framework, said:

“Homelessness is not going away in the current climate, but by working together through Housing First, we can offer more options for homeless people, particularly those with the most complex cases, and ultimately support more people to rebuild their lives.”

Councillor Trish Hardy, the Deputy Portfolio Holder for Housing and Spatial Framework at the Combined Authority said:

“Tackling homelessness takes collaboration and partnership working. This new model of delivery, including the multi-agency panels, allows us to find the people most in need of Housing First and offer it to them.”

Housing First was piloted with 60 service users in the city region as part of the Government’s national strategy to end rough sleeping. Of those 60, many of whom have very complex needs and have been homeless for significant periods, we have housed 48 people.

Housing First differs from traditional homeless support in that it provides a home as the first response for people with multiple and complex needs.  It then provides individualised support to deal with issues such as addiction, mental and physical health issues and the effects of trauma and abuse.

This new phase of Housing First will make it easier for users to access the service by introducing a more collaborative approach to referrals. This means that organisations such as the Probation Service, hostels supporting homeless people, outreach teams and even service users themselves, will be able to refer into the programme.

New multi-agency panels, led by each of the six local authorities in the city region and made up of a variety of organisations such as public health, housing, social services and community organisations will then decide on who will go forward onto the scheme.

As part of this expansion, six new Housing First teams, each made up of one Senior Support Worker and six Support Workers, will be based within the local authority areas of Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral, providing intensive 1-2-1 unconditional support based on the seven Housing First principles:

• People have the right to a home. Eligibility for housing is not contingent on any conditions apart from the willingness to maintain a tenancy.
• Flexible support is available for as long as it is needed. Support workers have a smaller caseload which enables more intensive, personalised support for people not successfully engaged previously due to the complexity of their needs.
• Housing and support are separated. Housing is not a reward for engaging with support.
• Individuals have choice and control. This fully respects the choices of each person and supports their self-determination.
• An active engagement approach is used. The service finds ways to engage with the person instead of the other way round.
• Service is based on the person’s strengths, goals and aspirations. This recognises and emphasises the individual’s strengths and capacity for positive change, and links them with relevant services that helps them meet that.
• A reduction to harm approach is used. This supports people to choose practices that reduce harm and promote recovery.