Dedicated support for homeless families

HOMELESSNESS amongst children and families is at an all-time high across the UK and Leeds is no exception.

Beacon Leeds is a service, delivered by Turning Lives Around in partnership with Touchstone and Foundation, that works to prevent and break the cycle of homelessness amongst multiply disadvantaged adults and today that includes more families than ever before.

In response, Sarah Glover-Pringle has been appointed by TLA as a dedicated Family Focused Worker to support those families who are experiencing homelessness, at risk of homelessness or living with the trauma of past homelessness.

She works directly with 15 families, but as this is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the number of children impacted by homelessness that TLA is supporting in Leeds and Wakefield, she also advises housing support colleagues with family clients.

A key factor in the ongoing rise of homelessness amongst families is the lack of social housing. “The housing situation at the moment is dire,” commented Sarah.

“There is a shortage of social housing and no funding to build more. Private rent is just not within reach of most people, especially those on low income or who aren’t able to work. Relationships break down, the family home has to be sold but where do the occupants go?”

Temporary accommodation for families generally means living in hotels, crammed into one room with next to no facilities for too long. Family members can also be split up and accommodated separately. All of this has an impact on the children involved.

Beacon provides supported accommodation for some of the most vulnerable people and families in Leeds. Accommodation varies according to clients’ needs but includes some self-contained properties within communities across Leeds. The aim is, by providing tailored support and training, to enable clients to live independently and move into permanent accommodation through private landlords, Leeds City Council and housing associations.

Sarah has a background in social work, has worked in education with families of autistic students and, most recently, spent two years as an Intensive Support Worker at Oakdale, TLA’s intensive support accommodation for men.

Starting her family focused role in September, the need for her services quickly became apparent. She works on the behalf of families, plus clients who have lost access to their children, with social services, contact centres, schools and the Anti-Social Behaviour team to name but a few.

“It has been a steep learning curve; I’ve learned a lot in a short time especially in terms of family law,” said Sarah. “But working with the children is a joy. You can see that they are reacting to the trauma they have been through. They are still remembering living with uncertainty, day-to-day in temporary accommodation in hotels or being separated from loved ones. It’s good to be able to give some reassurance, to be able to say, ‘you are safe, you can relax’.

“These children and their parents need this help, they’ve not had it before, and I want to give them as much support as I can.”