Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) and Stepping Stone Projects are working together to enable more people facing homelessness to access the help they need to build a better future.
Rochdale-based Stepping Stone Projects provides support to people across the North West who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes. The charity has just been commissioned to deliver more services in Rochdale as part of Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham’s A Bed Every Night scheme, which aims to ensure nobody sleeps rough in the region.
Six new homes
The partnership will see housing association Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH) provide an additional six homes to Stepping Stone Projects for people sleeping rough. The landlord already provides around 20 homes to the charity for temporary and move on accommodation as well as providing 16 homes for a group supported housing scheme.
Gareth Swarbrick, RBH chief executive, said: “The chance to continue our work with Stepping Stone Projects and provide more much needed accommodation for the A Bed Every Night scheme has been welcomed wholeheartedly.
“We’re committed to ensuring people have the opportunity to start their journey to a new life away from living on the streets. This initiative will really have an impact on some of the most vulnerable people in Rochdale.”
Extension to scheme
Dave Smith, chief executive of Stepping Stone Projects, added: “This partnership is absolutely fantastic news for the homeless community in Rochdale.
“With the properties made available to us by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, we’re able to extend the A Bed Every Night scheme in the area and make more beds available.
“The homes provide people with somewhere safe to sleep. We can then work with each person to help them access the individualised support they need to find a permanent solution.
“Whilst this is a new partnership the relationship between Stepping Stone Project and RBH goes back nearly two decades and we’re committed to working together in the future to continue to offer help and support to those who need it most.”
Both Rochdale Boroughwide Housing and Stepping Stone Projects have committed to an ongoing partnership and are currently exploring other options to reduce homelessness in the borough.
Image by Ben Kerckx from Pixabay