News

January 2009

Intermediate Housing Catalyst Housing Group has been awarded the contract for the new Intermediate Housing Service. Discussions are taking place in order to get the service in place over the next few months. The official launch of the service will be 01 April 2009. In the meantime residents can contact the service to make an application to join the Home Ownership Register and for news and advice on intermediate housing opportunities by visiting: www.homeownershipwestminster.co.uk

December 2008

Settled Homes Scheme

The Settled Homes Initiative is designed to reduce the number of families living in temporary accommodation. Westminster City Council has successfully bid for money under this scheme and around 200 properties will be purchased with CityWest Homes, who will manage the properties. The properties are only available to homeless households. Further information is available here or you can contact the Housing Options Service on 0207 641 1000.

November 2008

Mortgage rescue schemes

Westminster has been selected as one of the 'fast track' authorities for the national mortgage rescue schemes. We will start taking applications early from December, so will be ready to help people quickly when the schemes are launched in January 09.

October 2008

Homelessness Award

Westminster recently received a runner up award in the Andy Ludlow Homelessness Awards for the Westminster homeless services' Behavioural Therapies Action project. Run by the London Councils, awards are given to the organisations which demonstrate innovative and creative solutions for tackling homelessness in the capital, as well as recognising good practice. The project evolved when staff saw a need to develop new ways of working with rough sleepers who had mental health issues which, though not severe, hindered their ability to engage with services. As a result, staff from across Westminster's rough sleeping services have been provided with training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) - a 'talking therapy' designed to help people change how they think and act in ways that can improve their state of mind. The goal of the programme is nothing less than to fundamentally change the ways in which staff work with clients and help them address their own behaviour.

September 2008

Rough Sleepers Count

A full, official count took place on 25 September. There has been a significant reduction in the number of rough sleepers, to a record low of 69. This sustains the sub-100 count for the fifth count in a row, represents a third successive decrease and hits, for the first time, the CLG-set target of reducing rough sleeping to 78. The figure represents a reduction of two-thirds since the publication of the Government Strategy "Coming in from the Cold", in 2000. There were excellent results in all areas, with each area recording record low totals. The number of A8/A2 Nationals, who are not included within the core figure, has remained at the same level (23).

Click here for more information about the Rough Sleeping service.