Gateway Helps Record Number

78 people since the 1st April last year have been helped to find housing solutions by Gateway. And a heavy workload for our volunteers remains as many in our community continue to face acute housing issues.

Of those helped in the past year 31 were found homes either in private rental of local authority properties. 15 of these were so called ‘rough sleepers’ and 4 came to Gateway because of domestic abuse. Others were rehoused because of other issues, such as eviction.

Critically Gateway prevented a housing crisis becoming a disaster for some by helping people stay in their homes. Usually the possibility of being made homeless is because rent is not being paid. But a more stable and secure situation was achieved by ensuring individuals got advice on budgets, connecting them with support services such as the foodbank and by opening dialogue with energy suppliers.

Notably there have been a number of instances where Gateway became involved because of issues preventing children going to school. Repairs to housing, provision of basic furniture such as beds, and even shoes for one child, have made a material difference.

As always rough sleepers with no connection with Sid Valley remain a challenge, and like many parts of the country, there has been an increase in such visible homelessness. In the past year Gateway have helped 10 with food, clothing, washing facilities, medical appointments and specialist housing solutions for some of the most intractable cases.