Work has been completed on a £1.2m scheme in Eccles which will provide six new apartments designed specifically for people experiencing homelessness.
The development has been led by ForHousing, which owns and manages 24,000 homes across the North West, as part of the government’s Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme (RSAP) which aims to support 6,000 rough sleepers into longer-term accommodation
Working in partnership with Salford City Council, the new self-contained homes will be furnished and offered at a low-cost social rent to people who may otherwise end up on the streets.
Each tenant will also receive the personalised support they need to rebuild their lives from the landlord’s specialist teams. This can include help with budgeting or health and social care support.
The homes have been built using an innovative timber frame construction method and are fully electric, with hot water cylinders and EV chargers for each parking bay in line with new building regulations.
ForHousing secured £414,000 of funding from Homes England to build the much-needed homes, with the homes designed by JDA Architects.
Nigel Sedman, Executive Director of Homes at ForHousing, said:
“Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. We are passionate about tackling homelessness at ForHousing and these six new homes cannot come soon enough.
“Thanks to the Rough Sleepers Accommodation Programme and our partnership with Salford City Council, we can help more people find stability in their lives and take steps towards a brighter future.
“We hope that everyone who moves in can get the care and support they need to thrive in their new homes.”
Councillor Tracy Kelly, Deputy City Mayor and Lead Member for Housing and Anti-Poverty at Salford City Council, said:
“It is fantastic news that these homes are now complete and ready for people to move into. People are desperate for affordable homes and the six affordable homes will make such a huge difference to the lives of people who move into them.
“The extra element with this scheme is that the rough sleeping accommodation programme homes on the same site.
“The homes will provide a secure base and help to support people in short-term temporary accommodation to build up their independent living skills. The care and wellbeing of our residents is an absolute priority.”
With the cost of living rising and winter just around the corner, homelessness continues to be a growing concern in the city, with over 4,500 households having sought help over the past year, and more people turning to temporary accommodation.
ForHousing plans to deliver 45 new homes worth more than £8.5m through the RSAP and Next Step Accommodation Programme (NSAP).
NSAP is a government funding initiative, separate to RSAP, for schemes focused on preventing people who were sleeping rough and given temporary accommodation during the COVID-19 pandemic, from returning to the streets.
The landlord works closely with Salford City Council to identify local people in need and offer them a home.
