Coastline Housing, a housing association in Cornwall, has joined the campaign for increased investment in supported housing services. On Thursday, September 12, 2024, residents, volunteers, and colleagues at Coastline Housing held events to celebrate the importance of supported housing services and called on the government for sound and stable funding for these services in the future.
At Chi Winder in Pool, homeless clients cooked up a storm on the BBQ and invited visitors and key stakeholders from the community to see the vital services that are delivered at the purpose-built homeless center every day. These services include crisis accommodation, move-on accommodation, access to a GP, showers, laundry, courses, and various other help and advice services.
Meanwhile, residents and guests at the landlord’s accommodation for homeless families in Redruth marked the day with lunch, cake, and the creation of a new fairy garden complete with plant pots, mushrooms, and miniature ladders. The aim is for children and their families to continue adding to this project over the coming months and years, providing something full of joy and hope for any future guests at this accommodation.
Louise Beard, Deputy CEO of Coastline Housing, emphasized the importance of supported housing services, stating, “Having a safe and secure home is one of the most important things in life. For many people though, this is not enough and they need a wraparound support service to enable them to live an independent and fulfilling life.”
She added, “Supported housing services need to be a vital part of any national housing strategy that’s introduced by the new government moving forwards and that is why we are so keen to promote the difference supported housing services make to people’s lives day in, day out.”
A celebration event also took place at Miners Court, Coastline’s Extra Care scheme where customers live independently in 64 self-contained flats with help from an on-site care and support team. Customers decorated the scheme with homemade decorations they had been working hard to prepare and all enjoyed coming together to take part in some singing and dancing along to music provided by a local entertainer.
Beard highlighted the importance of Extra Care schemes and other support services for the aging population in Cornwall, stating, “Cornwall has an ageing population and this is why Extra Care schemes and other support services for people who are older and may become less independent are so vitally important. These services help people to stay healthier and more independent for longer.”
She added, “Without services like these, thousands of people across the country could go without the support they need, costing the public purse and leaving people who could live independently with support facing long stays in care homes or even hospitals.”
Those interested in learning more about Coastline’s Homeless and Extra Care support services and how they can be accessed can visit the landlord’s website.