OPINION: Homes are at the heart of settled futures

The National Housing Federation’s #HomesattheHeart campaign this week puts housing at the forefront of providing settled futures for vulnerable people, with a key focus on supporting those who are already homeless or preventing those at risk from sleeping rough. As our organisation was founded out of a day shelter provision back in 1976, supporting the homeless has always been one of our main aims as we look to help people get their lives back on track. For those homeless, not having an address means finding employment and claiming benefits can be extremely difficult, whilst other issues such as lack of washing facilities and lack of access to IT equipment makes it very challenging to break into the job market. With COVID-19 seeing a sharp rise in people needing social housing,…

OPINION: Homes are at the Heart of a Greener Country

News, Paul's blog

After looking at the benefits housing has on the economy, living standards and making ends meet, this week’s focus in the National Housing Federation’s #HomesattheHeart campaign surrounds the idea of a greener country. A greener environment is an important way to promote positive mental health for some of our most vulnerable clients. A well-kept, outdoor space goes a long way to put a smile on people’s faces, either by spending time in a garden or park, or actively helping out in looking after them. Thanks to donations, a disused piece of land has been transformed at our Keighley accommodation into a communal outdoor space for clients who otherwise wouldn’t have access to a garden. With a vegetable patch allowing people to grow their own produce, this beautiful and peaceful plot…

Horton’s services during COVID-19 outbreak

News

This is a challenging time for all of us and we are doing our best to keep our services running as smoothly as possible and provide vital support for vulnerable people in Bradford, Kirklees, Calderdale and North Yorkshire. Wherever possible, we are providing floating support to our clients over the telephone and online. In emergency situations, when we need to visit a client in their own home, we are maintaining social distancing and doing everything we can to minimise face-to-face contact. We are taking extra infection control measures within our accommodation schemes to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This includes asking clients to self-isolate if they are displaying any symptoms of the virus, closing communal areas and limiting visitors. We will only be carrying out emergency and urgent…

Case study: Alison

Case studies

Alison was referred to Horton Housing by her CPN (Community Psychiatric Nurse). She had been living in private accommodation but felt unsafe there. She moved to our Intensive Housing Management Accommodation in Water Street, Huddersfield two years ago. ‘I used to get up early in the morning and wander the street. The workmen were not nice to me and I used to get upset. Through the back door there was soot like someone was going to set a fire. That’s when my CPN rung Sue, the manager at Water Street, to see if there were any flats. ‘When I first came to live at Water Street, I was shy. I hardly talked and I was scared. Now I have grown in confidence, I am no longer a shy girl, thanks…

Case study: Arabia

Case studies

Arabia was facing eviction because the mess in her house had become unmanageable. She had lived in her home for 19 years and raised her three children there. Arabia has a number of serious health problems and very limited mobility. She is in a lot of pain most of the time. Arabia had become confined to her living room where she slept on her reclining chair. Her son, who has autism and is selectively mute, was looking after her but was struggling to cope. Arabia hadn’t left the house in two-and-a-half years. Unable to use the kitchen, mother and son were living on take-away food. Rubbish, including food packaging, was mounting up putting Arabia at risk from fire and pests. She was distrustful of the housing officers who came around…